121 Settlers Shiraz

On the nose, we find a broad depth of dark and red fruits- concentrated plums and blackberry supported by a backbone of elegant oak with underlying nuances of cedar and spice. Fruit carries through on the palate with luscious berry fruits and graphite, with amazing structure from the red clay soil. Fine, velvety tannins carry through on the lengthy finish. Will benefit from decanting. Drinks well now, or will benefit from cellaring for a further 10+ years.

Download Tasting Notes for 2017 Vintage

Vintage

2018

Grape variety breakdown

A considered winemaking process is all that is required, with the aim to drive the attributes and characteristics of the vineyard into the wine. Juice is partially gravity flowed, with gentle pipeage to extract tannins, then the wine is aged in a combination of new and second-use French Oak for 16–18 months. The result is a full-bodied but linear and finessed wine – attributes that are reflective of the site. This is classically Barossa in style and highlights why Barossa Shiraz is so highly acclaimed. It has produced truly exciting wines, capable of years in the cellar. Approachable now but will continue to evolve elegantly in the long term.

Technical Details

Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: | Acidity: | Volume: 750mls

Background

By 1850, Krondorf village comprised 121 Settlers and their families. These 121 souls formed the beginning of a new community that shaped the future of the Barossa Valley. Their spirit is remembered through the rare, meticulously selected old vine vineyards with vine age of at least 35 years. Typically, these grapes are intensely flavoured and concentrated, with a fine natural and elemental balance, supple tannin quality and integrated acidity

Cellaring potential

Drinks well now, or will benefit from cellaring for a further 10+ years.

Bouquet

On the nose, we find a broad depth of dark and red fruits- concentrated plums and blackberry supported by a backbone of elegant oak with underlying nuances of cedar and spice

Vineyard Notes

These 65-year old grapes harvested for the 121 Settlers, were picked from a single site in the southern end of the Barossa. The site lies in the St Jakobi area, over the western ridge of sub-region, Lyndoch. Planted over a mix of red clay and loam, they are early-ripening grapes, which further protects them from marginal weather influence. The rustic, dense soils drive opulence and structure within the resultant wines. The old vines are low yielding, with small berries that give concentrated fruit flavours. Vines are tended to using a minimalistic approach, whereby all treatments to the grapes are reasoned and used only when absolutely necessary. The protection of soil and vine health helps to reflect the site within the wine.

2018 was one of the vintages, if not ‘the vintage’ of the decade. Offering the perfect growing season and perfect ripening season.