2003 Water Wheel Shiraz

~A TRADITION OF GENEROSITY ~

Once a year, Water Wheel winemaker Peter Cumming makes an appearance at our stores. A rustic, natural character, he presents like a farm hand carrying his Christmas gift - a box of home grown cherries. Cumming remains one of Australia's most unassuming winemakers. A firm believer that "Wine is for drinking and made to enjoy," his idea of a luxurious weekend is focused around a camp fire, a tent and a slab of beer. Over the years Cummings' innate ability to grow exceptional fruit has been consistently demonstrated (his tomatoes are also wonderful!) His sensitivity towards Bendigo's terroir is only heightened with time and experience.
The 2003 vintage in Bendigo was the earliest on record and in part was a reflection of the dry growing conditions and warm, dry autumn. In most vintages, the Water Wheel Shiraz almost makes itself - however in 2003 the winemakers had to earn their keep. Generally, Water Wheel pick their Shiraz between early April and early May, however in 2003 the grapes were fully developed by the 20th of March. This resulted in the need to carefully monitor the fermentation temperatures as well as the pH and acidity. The challenge was to extract more berry flavours rather than plum characteristics from the grapes. Fermentation temperatures were not allowed to go beyond 20ºC. After some sweat and struggle, the team finally delivered a generous, flavour filled wine possessing great concentration. What's more, Water Wheel have maintained their traditional bargain basement price.

...a generous, flavour filled wine possessing great concentration.

TASTING NOTE: An outstanding Water Wheel Shiraz. Totally opaque black purple colour, with black purple hue. The nose is equally impressive with a wonderful concentrated sniff of ripe blackberries, plum, vanilla, liquorice, spice and black pepper. The palate has a “Heathcote” like structure (Bendigo is after all not that far away!) with massive flavours of white pepper, spice, blackberry and dark chocolate. Fine grained tannins, dryish, but perfectly balanced with very long aftertaste of spice, white and black pepper and blackberries.
Cellar 4-5 years (2008-2009)
Alc/Vol: 15.5%