Colonial Estate

The Barton vineyard ranks as one of the most interesting vineyards that exist in Moppa section of the Barossa Valley. The 80-100 year old gnarled Shiraz vines give the wine a certain edginess. The vines are green harvested to produce a crop at 1.5 tonnes an acre. At dawn, the grapes are hand-picked, double sorted, and fermented in oak vats before ageing in 100% new French oak barrels. Grape Varieties - Shiraz 95 % and Mourvedre 5%

So that’s what it is, and a remarkable wine it is too, not least in an Australian context, but even more so in an international one.

It’s a riot of intense fruit essences - blackberry nip and cherry liqueur, red berries, camphor, liquorice, brown spices, creamy vanilla oak and a subtle sweet grassy character that floats above. In the mouth distinctly full bodied and smooth with masses of fine dry tannins and good clean acidity providing freshness. I like the purity of fruit here - not over-sweet or syrupy. It’s powerful too, and long, and has it’s bags packed for at least a decade. A big wine, but not one that’s hard to drink. Not merely impressive, I really like it too.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Jul08
Alcohol : 15.5%
Price : $110
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 - 2018+
Source : Winery Sample
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