St Hallett Gamekeeper's Shiraz

Vibrant plum red with purple hues, a great example of a youthful Shiraz. The style of this wine is all about lush, juicy plum and cherry flavors combining with a dark chocolate, blackberries and vanilla framework to create a full bodied but soft rolling Barossa Shiraz experience. We recommend enjoying this wine while young, fresh and vibrant - whatever the occasion, we're sure you'll enjoy this Barossa Shiraz nearly as much as we do making it!

Winemaking Notes

The Shiraz fruit for this wine has been sourced from a patchwork of vineyards throughout the central and western sections of the Barossa Valley, producing intensely flavored, low yielding crops. During the ripening period, the winemakers and viticulturalist have constantly monitored both the sugar/acid ripeness and flavor development, co-ordinating the harvest when all parcels are at their optimum.

The fruit is harvested during the warmth of the day, brought to the winery, immediately crushed into stainless steel fermenters and inoculated with a neutral yeast strain. Fermentation occurs over a 6-8 day period at 72-75°F. A regime of four pump overs per 24 hours allows the color, flavor & tannins to be gently extracted from the skins, adding to the overall complexity of the finished wine. On the completion of primary yeast fermentation, the wine is drained and pressed, and seeded with Lactic Acid bacteria for Malolactic Fermentation (MLF). Maturation occurs in a combination of new, 1, 2 and 3 year old French and American oak barrels.

Wine Production Stats

Alcohol: 14%
Total Acidity: 6.9g/L
pH: 3.5
Residual Sugar: 1.0 g/L (dry)

A short burst of heat in late-December was followed by a long period of mostly below-average temperatures through to early March. Reds ripened early, with the first Shiraz picked on 6th February 2008. Many vineyards reached flavor maturity at the same time, although the unusually cool days and nights during February ensured fruit stayed in good condition until picking. In early March, South Australia experienced an extended heatwave of thirteen consecutive days above 95°F, before a cool change brought relief on 18th March. The mostly mild days and cool nights before the heat wave allowed all vineyards of Shiraz to be picked at optimal flavor ripeness, with generous flavors and supple tannins.

89 points - Best Buy

Wine Enthusiast
"Full bodied and supple, this nicely balanced Barossa Shiraz shows that value still exists even in big-name regions of Australia. Intense blueberry and spice aromas give way to mixed berries and vanilla on the palate, and if it’s not overly complex, it’s a still a concentrated mouthful of Shiraz at a bargain price. Imported by Lion Nathan USA, Inc. Best Buy."
- Joe Czerwinski (2008 vintage)
- July 2011

BEST OF CLASS GOLD MEDAL

Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Awards 2010