Petaluma Shiraz 2004 75cl

Description

The vineyard was planted in 1992, on micaceous schist soils on the western escarpment of Mount Barker on the eastern edge of the Adelaide Hills. The hot days, influenced by the Murray River plains to the east and the cold night air drainage from the central Adelaide Hills to the west, create a large diurnal temperature differential through the growing season which exactly suits Shiraz for optimal quality.

The Petaluma Shiraz is the third organically certified grown and vinified wine made by Petaluma.

It is a bright fruit, vibrant dense but supple dry red. Ripe red fruits mix with fragrant black pepper and licorice and complement cedar, fresh tobacco and a hint of savoury bacon fat. Spice and pepper accentuate the generous expressive long finish. The tannins are soft, sandy and abundant.

This Shiraz will reward careful cellaring for many years but is immediately appealing.

Many critics score this Petaluma Adelaide Hills wine highly. The Wine Advocate gave the 2018 vintage a score of 93 and Jancis Robinson gave the 2006 vintage a score of 18/20. This wine has won many prizes: the 2006 vintage was awarded Silver (Best In Class) from the International Wine & Spirit Competition as well as Silver from the International Wine Challenge.
One of the most expensive red wines from Adelaide Hills (top 20%). The price has been stable over the past year.

There is a great excitement in exploring the Adelaide Hills in Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. Finding things you never expected. Whether that be driving along its maze of undulating country lanes to find hidden wineries, or discovering grape varieties that most would never expect to find in this part of Australia. With so many different soil types, microclimates and elevations dotted throughout the region, along with its absence of entrenched vinous history, the Adelaide Hills has become a fertile bed of experimentation.

The region’s proximity to Adelaide and a thriving tourist industry based on its natural beauty have boosted the region’s wine industry. It is one of the oldest wine growing areas in Australia, with significant viticulture practiced during the late 19th Century, followed by a revival in the 1970s and 1980s. The ripening season is very often dry and this, along with the colder temperatures, allows the grapes to mature at a slow pace, resulting in concentrated wines. The long and cool growing season reliably ripens red grapes when grown in the right locations. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot are the prominent red wine varieties.

In truly understanding what cool-climate characteristics can bring to Adelaide Hills Shiraz, many of the region’s winemakers have taken a great leap forward over the past five years to explore a significantly different style. The smart ones have stopped chasing the amplified characters typical of South Australia’s other historically famous Shiraz regions, the Barossa and McLaren Vale. Instead, they’ve learned that the secret to unlocking the best expressions of cool-climate Shiraz requires stepping outside a familiar framework. The result is a lively new style. Energy driven by a spike of acidity.