Margan White Label Aged Release Shiraz 2003 - LIMITED

NOTES

The Hunter Valley produces some of the most regionally unique styles of wine in the world. Every variety grown has its own unique set of characters and structure that are affected significantly by the climate they enjoy, the soil they are produced from and the winemaking style I prefer. The quality of Margan is controlled from the vineyard right through to the consumer.

All of the wines are produced from Margan’s old vine, low yielding vineyards. The volcanic soils of the Fordwich Sill that nourish our vines produce excellent quality grapes that achieve optimal ripeness of flavour, colour and tannin. The wines have great texture, structure and richness which are a true expression of the vineyard they come from. Margan produce a richer, softer Hunter style of wine.

TASTING NOTES

The grapes for this wine were picked from forty year old vines growing on the red basalt volcanic clay of THE “Fordwich Sill” on our Timbervines Vineyard.   With an average yield of only one tonne per acre the fruit for this wine was intensely concentrated in flavour.  The drought vintage coupled with our use of 25% of the juice for our saignee has increased the concentration of this wine.   The grapes were picked at full ripeness and were fermented under cool conditions using cultured aromatic yeast.  After fermentation the wine was placed in NEW French oak barriques where it matured for 16 months prior to bottling.

This wine is of full bodied density and displays a subtle combination of spicy pepper and tar like characters which are typical of Hunter Shiraz.  It is well structured and shows great palate length. The solid tannin structure of the wine has ensured that the wine has matured slowly and will allow for another 10 years of development at least.