2023 Penny’s Hill Cracking Black Shiraz

Rich, lush black fruits framed by muscular tannins and chalky acidity with a tense, grippy finish.

The most interesting aspect of Penny’s Hill Malpas Road vineyard is a peculiar characteristic of the soil from which this wine's namesake is derived, due to the cracking black 'bay of biscay' soils. Since the site was planted in 1991, viticulturists have observed come summer, preceding vintage, that fissures occur as the black soil dries up. It literally cracks apart, severing any surplus root structure in the vine; a process which naturally lessens vine vigour and enhances fruit quality. To best reflect the variations in terroir across the vineyards and ensure that the fruit is picked at optimal levels of physiological ripeness, harvest of individual parcels occurs on different days. Maturation takes place in French oak barrels for a period of 16 months.

Magnificent colour density featuring an impenetrable inky black heart and a very deep dark red black hue. Liquorice, black cherry and blackberry aromas flood the olfactory senses followed by some spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered fennel notes. Rich, lush black cherry and liquorice fruits are framed by a muscular tannin structure. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and blackpepper elements lurk on the other side. Bright, chalky acidity with a tense, grippy finish.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%