Geographe,
Western Australia. Style: Dark, spicy and brooding, it is full
flavoured and complex, yet not too heavy on the palate.
Vineyards:
The Gravel Pit Shiraz block was planted on our Ferguson Valley Estate
in 1997 on classic freedraining WA "Marri soil" (a deep layer of
ironstone gravelly loam over reddish friable clay) with a gentle
westerly aspect at 230-250m above sea level. It sits on an area which
has been significantly re-landscaped by Man. While this is common in
Europe, it is a rarity in Australia. It was the source of gravel for
building local roads, so had received a
significant haircut before
vines found their way there. The resulting shallow soil profile leads to
deeply concentrated wine which tends to reflect its rocky name. Whilst
it retains the rich, dark chocolate and plummy fruit typical to Willow
Bridge, it has a tendency to produce the most macho and mineral style of
all our Shiraz blocks. Some fruit also came from the very similar
'Jarrah' Shiraz block less than 50m to the South of the Gravel Pit. With
a slightly deeper soil profile, the 'Jarrah' block produces a style
which is richer but also more soft and juicy.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep purple.
Nose: Serious - roasted meats, black pepper, dark plum, dark chocolate, young polished leather.
Palate:
Lots of pepper and 'dark' spice / roasted meats to start. It's not too
thick and heavy but has plenty of fine tannins through the palate, which
seem to accompany roasted nut flavours also. Dark cherry and plum
fruits come through also, especially with more time/air.
Cellaring:
Will benefit from a big glass or a rough decant in its youth (to 2015?)
and will reward cellaring to at least 2025, possibly much longer.
No recommended products at the moment.
