2021 Oakdene William Shiraz

Appearance
Rich ruby red colour.

Bouquet
Lifted blue and red fruit aromas, with savoury spice and pepper notes.

Palate
Medium bodied, with savoury dark berry fruit characters, anise and violets. Fine ripe tannins, French oak and a savoury whole-bunch undergrowth note adding freshness and drive to the finish.

Fermentation
Shiraz was destemmed, with 15% included as whole bunches and then fermented using wild yeast in small open vats peaking at 30 degrees C with extended maceration on skins post ferment. Pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and matured in French oak barriques (30% new) for 16 months, then bottled in September 2022.

Conclusion
Highly enjoyable now, or cellar over the next 5 to 15 years.

REVIEWS & RATINGS

95 points, Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion - "Fermented in small open vats with 15% whole bunches. Matured in French oak barriques (30% new) for 16 months. A bright, medium crimson-ruby red. Complex with aromas of red and blue fruits, white and black pepper and well-handled floral, spicy whole bunch characters. Medium bodied, this has both good depth and structure and while it's approachable now (with food), my feeling is that it's totally worth putting a few bottles away for five to 10 years".
 

93 Points, Stuart Knox - The Real Review - "Rich ruby red colour. Blue fruits, wakame and vegetable stock aromas. Medium to full with rich blue and red fruits that are well integrated and balanced by savoury vege stock and undergrowth notes. Palate suggests a good amount of whole bunch and it has been worked very well, tannins are still fine and ripe so the length is noticeable and the finish fine and precise"