De Bortoli’s Chief Winemaker Steve Webber has created a new wine for the company portfolio, with Handcrafted Heathcote Shiraz, highlighting everything the region has to offer.
Webber has selected a small parcel of Shiraz for this wine, that showcases the environmental forces of Heathcote, a region known for producing intense and full-bodied wines.
These are characteristics seen in Handcrafted Heathcote Shiraz, which has distinctive structure, fruit-driven characteristics and is also described as quite supple, relaxed, ethereal and compelling.
Webber said: “Heathcote has a long history of growing Shiraz of extraordinary quality. The ancient Cambrian red soils of the region give flavours of dark berry fruits and violets combined with lovely texture and feel.”
The fruit for the wine was picked, sorted and placed in open fermenters and vats with some whole bunch inclusion to offer extra perfume and charm. Plots were fermented and pressed separately before blending after nine months of maturation in French oak casks.
Tasting notes describe, “Dark colour with garnet edge. Haunting, ethereal, deeply scented forest aromas. Dense mouth filling flavours, quite supple and relaxed, dark fruits, earthen and compelling”.
The 14.7 per cent ABV wine is available now at $30 RRP and will age gracefully for 10 years with careful cellaring.