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NOTES
Driven by quality and a hands-on approach, Hollick wines are made from three core vineyards. Neilson's Block, planted by Ian and Wendy in 1975, the nearby Wilgha vineyard, purchased in 1987 and the Red Ridge vineyard developed in 1998 at Wrattonbully, giving Hollick over 200 acres of vineyard in total. Eighty percent is planted to red varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. The balances of the vineyards are planted to the white varieties of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Coonawarra soil is the classic Terra Rossa over limestone, providing excellent drainage and the right balance of nutrients, the ideal medium for vine growth and production of high quality fruit. Since the renaissance of Coonawarra in the 1950's, the region has produced many classic red wines, mainly based on Cabernet Sauvignon. Coonawarra has become synonymous with this grape variety and is recognised and admired world wide as a leading area for the production of premium quality table wines. The long and cool ripening season also produces white wines of distinction, particularly from Riesling, Chardonnays and more recently Sauvignon Blanc.
In the vineyard, Hollick wines utilise a blend of traditional methods and modern technology, which are employed to achieve balance in the wine and consistency of style in the market place.
TASTING NOTES
The 2006 Wrattonbully Shiraz provides further evidence of Ian Hollick’s vision and belief that the rolling hills and stony soil of the Hollick Vineyard in Wrattonbully is a fantastic site for quality wine grape production. Being of similar red soils to that of the famed Terra Rossa of Coonawarra, this vineyard consistently produces low yields of fruit with intense flavour and colour.
A mild summer and dry autumn in early 2006, resulted in lower than average temperatures throughout the main ripening season which produced below average yields. Shiraz grapes from the Hollick Wrattonbully Vineyard were delivered to the winery in near perfect condition with great all-round ripeness. The winemaking staff worked carefully to retain the wonderful flavours created in the vineyard, and after the fermentation and maturation process a critical barrel selection of the most outstanding batches was made to determine the final blend.
Typically the best barrels were from fruit sourced from the top of the slope where the shallow soils ensured that the vines struggled to produce crops of little more than one tonne per acre.
Dense ruby red with purple hues at the rim, the wine exhibits lifted and vibrant aromas of fresh dark plums
and blueberries with hints of violets, mocha, mint and spice. Intense fruit flavours of plum and blackberries
are fused harmoniously with hints of dark chocolate and spice. Dense and powerful yet at the same time impeccably balanced and elegant. Great structure and length of palate with soft and fine grained tannins on the finish.
The supple structure of this wine enables it to be consumed now, although 5 to 10 years in a good cellar will be amply rewarded.
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