Westlake Vineyards 717 Convicts ’Wardens Shiraz 2005

NOTES

In 1999 Darren and Suz Westlake were given the privilege to manage land that had been in the Kalleske family for 3 generations in the Moppa region of the Barossa by Suz’s parents, John and Barb Kalleske. It is a small family owned business and quality will not be compromised for quantity on demand. With 75 acres of vineyards, it gives them the luxury of being able to choose the best parcels of fruit for their own label. Cropping levels are brutally low at around 1.5 tonnes to the acre. Their aim at Westlake is to produce wines of concentrated and complex flavours, that are balanced, full bodied and persistent, with the ability to develop further complexities and age gracefully. All the fruit for the wines are estate grown and are produced using traditional methods and new ideas. All the wines are fermented in open top fermenters, basket pressed, undergo malolactic fermentation, are matured in new and old oak and are bottled without filtering or fining.

TASTING NOTES

Well balanced for a big wine, that's for sure.  A real eye opener - glossy, big and ripe no doubt, but a nice subtle line of acidity and some good pepper and clove tones give this a nice complexity and pick it up above the norm.  Dark purple red colour with a nice, vibrant sheen to it.  Full bodied.  Smells of ripe glossy fruit, but with some freshness and spice.

REVIEWS

The black and red fruit flavours have confit/stewed elements, the sweetness augmented by the oak; hardly needs to be said there is an abundance of overall flavours and the tannins are ripe.  Cork.  Drink to 2015. 89 Points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010