Skillogalee Basket Pressed Shiraz 2018

75cl bottle,

Vegan, vegetarian

Clare Valley

Premium Shiraz grapes were carefully harvested for this wine, from low yielding, dry grown vines, on the slopes around the Skillogalee Homestead, standing at approximately 450m above sea level.
There is a pronounced earthiness to this wine. Aromas of blue fruits, leather and tobacco on the nose, segue into a myriad of flavours on the palate, including plum, blackberry, spearmint and dark chocolate, all solidly conveyed atop a smoky persistence. The palate is bold, fleshy and yet medium bodied.
The fruit was vinified in open fermenters, then gently basket-pressed to create a wine that is fruit driven and concentrated with velvety tannins, needing no fining. Maturation in a combination of French and American oak hogsheads has added considerably to the wine’s character, balance and complexity. This Shiraz is vegan friendly.

The 2018 vintage can be summed up as a long dry growing season, which started with low moisture in the soil due to previous winter and spring both also both being dry with below average annual rainfall of only about 500mm. This was combined with above average temperatures throughout the season, rather than any specific heatwave. While this weather meant yields for 2018 were down on the previous vintage, the fruit produced this season was incredibly rich and concentrated producing wines of outstanding quality and character.

With lifted dark berry fruit flavours of plum skin and spice, the palate shows a concentrated richness typical of the 2018 vintage. Maturation of this vintage was in a combination of French and American oak which adds considerably to the wine’s character, balance and complexity. This Shiraz displays all the hallmarks of Clare Valley traditional winemaking.

The wine will cellar well for at least 10 years but, for those without that kind of patience, enjoy sooner with red or game meats, spicy Indian food, or with rich pasta dishes – all of which make fantastic company.