2009 Jeanneret Rank and File Shiraz

Ben Jeanneret reports that the 2009 vintage in Clare was one of those years where everything seemed easy: it was just a question of picking the Shiraz as the flavours peaked – there was no pressure from heat or rain. And so a perfect crop arrived at the winery from five different vineyards, from Watervale in the south to Armagh in the north. The first Shiraz grapes arrived on the 10th March, with more on the 13th, 23rd and 30th, and the last fruit was picked on the 4th April, giving the winemaking team a range of flavours and ripenesses to lend complexity and depth to the finished wine.
Winemaker Ben Jeanneret has produced another decadent and extravagantly rich example of Clare Valley Shiraz that offers fantastic drinking over the Winter months.

All the batches were treated separately, and whilst all the fruit was de-stemmed, about half the fruit was retained as whole berries to add further complexity to the wine. Both natural and a Burgundian yeast were used and fermentation lasted from 8 – 46 days. After pressing all the wines were aged on their lees giving an extra degree of depth and a silky texture. Following a period of tank ageing the wines were aged in barrel for between 14 and 19 months. One third of the barrels used were new, one third were second-fill and half the oak was French, and half American.

Totally opaque black dark purple colour with deep black crimson hue. The nose displays lifted ripe blackberry and liquorice top notes followed by some black plum and spice. The palate delivers a similar level of concentration, power and richness to that of the hugely popular 2008 vintage. Totally mouthfilling the palate is densely packed with opulent ripe fruit delivering flavours of super ripe blackberry, liquorice, black plum, toasty oak and spice that totally immerse the palate. Slighty firmish but balanced tannins. Superb depth with very long aftertaste of liquorice, ripe blackberry and spice.  A superb follow up effort.
Cellar 4-5 years (2015-2016).
Alc 15%