2007 Summerfield Shiraz

To describe an Australian Shiraz in terms of "liquorice", "plum" and "blackpepper" still bemuses many winelovers. Some interpret it to mean that these substances have actually been infused into the wine, in much the same way as one might infuse botanicals in neutral spirit to create Gin. What to the layman has long appeared to be a rather fanciful use of descriptors, has in fact its basis in science.

Wine actually contains volatile organic compounds which correspond to those found in fruits, vegetables and other elements of our environment. These are either in the grapes themselves or seep into the finished juice. Several of the more commonly observed compounds have been identified by Dr Leigh Francis, sensory research manager at the Australian Wine Research Institute. For example, the distinctive black pepper character notable in Summerfield's Shiraz is generally attributed to 'rotundone', also common to black pepper itself.

A full bodied explosive Pyrenees Shiraz

Tasting note: Opaque black purple colour with black purple hue. Excellent colour saturation and glass cling. The nose is a little more subdued than the 2006 with aromas of ripe plum, vanilla, mocha, liquorice and confectionary. The palate is full bodied with explosive flavours of liquorice allsorts, ripe plum, blackberry and spice filling every corner of the mouth followed by some confectionary and blackpepper characters on the back palate. Excellent concentration. Fine grained tannin structure with very long spicy blackpepper aftertaste. A classic example of Pyrenees Shiraz.
Cellar 4-5 years.
14.5% Alc./Vol.