2016 Gibson The Dirtman Shiraz

Rob Gibson’s story began in the early 1980s when Penfolds Chief winemaker formulated a project to identify the very best quality Shiraz grapes for Grange Hermitage. This ground breaking work developed new assessments about the production of the best Shiraz and connected vineyard block characteristics at verasion and again prior to harvest with the resultant wine characters and wine value. Gibson led the project until he left to start 'Gibson Barossavale Wines' in 1997. He earned the nickname ‘Dirtman’ because of his obsession about vine growth which lead him to dig deep pits in between vines in order to discover the secret workings of the root system and whether there is any correlation between soils, minerals and the ultimate quality of the wine.

Rich, velvety and plush this sumptuous beauty is primed for drinking.

Produced using 89% Barossa Valley fruit and 11% Eden Valley fruit the wine was matured in 70% American oak (one third new) and 30% French oak for a period of 16 months. Totally opaque midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced liquorice, ripe blackberry and black cherry aromatics fill the nostrils over vanillin oak and a hint of spicy mocha. Full in body, rich plushly textured flavours of ripe blackberries, liquorice and dark plum flood the mouth with an undercard of vanillin oak, mocha and spice. Silky cashmere like tannins seamlessly intermesh with the opulent black fruits. Excellent depth with a long succulent aftertaste of blackberries, liquorice, fleshy dark plum, toasty vanillin oak, mocha and spice.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.8%