2004 Journeys End Vineyards Arrival Shiraz

Australia, it has been said, is the best place in the world to grow grapes.

Vintages in recent years, can only be described in superlatives, with all vintages being great, whilst some are destined to be rated excep tional. Australia is not alone with its vintage success, Bordeaux is boasting that 2005 will be its greatest vintage. So what is the cause of this spectacular run of vintages, and can they last? The answer lies with the world's dependence on fossil fuels and the consequential green house effect that is causing Global Warming. Global temperatures have been rising one third of a degree every 10 years which would result in an increase of 3°C in the next 100 years. This is a much faster rate of temperature increase than has oc curred over the last 10,000 years.

The rising temperatures effect everything on the planet, which are evidenced by the dramatic twist in global weather patterns that have become a feature of the 7 o’clock news. Climatic surveys by viticultural scientists of the world's 27 major wine growing regions have observed a 2°C increase of temperature over the last 50 years. This increase in temperature has, for the short term, played a significant role in the dramatic improvement of vintages. Whilst this is great news for the wine lover, the long term consequences will be the increasing volume of ordinary wine. As temperatures rise and the growing seasons get shorter, the complex flavour profiles of the grapes fail to develop. Warm viticul tural areas like the Hunter Valley will become hot, resulting in wines of lower acidity, higher PH and less flavour. Harvest dates will have to be brought forward and new corrective winemaking techniques de veloped. Water requirements will increase and the need to develop new drought and heat resistant clones will become urgent.

Scientists are divided as to whether Global Warming can be stopped altogether, or just slowed down, with some doomsdayers, arguing it is too late already. If they're right, then a good, cool cellar with a big collection of wines from great vintages will become essential.

McLaren Vale experienced cool ripening conditions in 2004, which prolonged the vintage and resulted in grapes with exceptional flavour profiles being harvested. Good Winter and Spring rains produced even budburst and as well as sufficient soil moisture levels to maintain a healthy canopy throughout the ripening period. McLaren Vale experienced its coolest January in 12 years, followed by above average temperatures in February 2004 with dry harvest conditions prevailing. Two exceptionally hot days in February produced minor shrivelling of the grapes and some sunburn, which was minimal due to the excellent leafy canopies shielding the grapes from the hot sun.

The 2004 Journeys End Arrival Shiraz is a spectacular expression of the vintage and yet another triumph for wine maker Ben Riggs. The fruit for this wine was sourced from 8 different sites in order to generate the complexing layers that Riggs is renown for. Five different clones of Shiraz are used together with a range of new French oak barriques to add to the assemblage of flavours. The final development of flavours takes place on the blending bench, where each barrel of Arrival is assessed with only the best being selected. As Ruskin said ‘quality is never an accident, it is always the result of intelligent effort.’

Tasting Note:
This wine delivers a magnificent aroma followed by a powerful palate structure, making it one of Riggs' masterpieces. Totally opaque black crimson colour with black crimson hue. Superb, perfumed nose of violets, vanilla, blackberry and spice. The palate structure is velvet smooth with flavours of violet infusions, vanilla and spice followed by nuances of chocolate and liquorice. Mouthfilling, with outstanding length and depth. Perfect balance with very long aftertaste of white pepper, plum and vanilla. OUTSTANDING!
Cellar 4-5 years (2010-2011)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%

Other Reviews...
The best of the trio is the 2004 Shiraz “Arrival”. Opaque purple-colored, it emits a perfume of wood smoke, toast, tar, licorice, blueberry muffin, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied, it has layers of spicy black fruit flavors, a soft blanket of ripe tannin, and excellent length. Allow 4-6 years of bottle aging and drink it through 2020.
93 Points
Drink 2011 - 2020
Jay Miller - Wine Advocate #173 Oct 2007

 Click here to read more about the McLaren Vale wine region.