Carlei Estate Shiraz 2003

Variety: Shiraz

Vintage: 2003Harvest date: 19th, 20th & 21st April 2003

Vineyard location: Heathcote

Oenological Data:
Harvest Beaumé: 13.5 to 14.5Total acidity: 7.5 g/l pH: 3.39

Alcohol: 14.0% alc/volProduction: 550 dozen

Winemaker’s Notes:
A very low yielding vineyard with deep red Cambrian soils, planted on an easterly slope. Harvested over a few days to ensure optimum balance, ripeness and intensity of flavour. The fruit was destemmed ; berries not crushed or pumped to preserve their physical integrity and transferred to open 3800 litre French oak foudres. Natural fermentation was followed by extended maceration of 3 to 5 weeks. The wine was aged in 60% new French oak, with a couple of Hungarian barrels for added interest, over 24 months.

Tasting Notes:
Complex brown spice and pepper on the nose with ripe plums and a lifted floral note. This is a very powerful wine with typical earthiness and chewy, fleshy texture. The finish is persistent with fine tannins and a fabulous balanced acidity. There is some musky perfume and smoky new oak as well. Classically structured, this wine offers lovely drinking now but will improve over the next 3 to 5 years. It should then mature slowly for many years hence.

Cellaring: 8 to 10 years plusPrinter Friendly PDF: Carlei Estate Shiraz 2003

Awards and Reviews:

Equal Top Gold Medal Class 24 – 2005 Winewise Small Vignerons Awards

Bronze Medal – Visy Board 2005 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge

Courrier Vinicole - Top Wines of the World

“The great 1998 Sergio Carlei Jenmare Estate (Shiraz) was pitted against the 1998 Grange. If the words "no contest" apply it's for two reasons. One, they're very different wines. Two, the 1998 Jenmare is just about one hundred percent more wine than the Grange, at least in terms of its layers and complexity.”

Doug Frost, January 7, 2004

“spicy notes with a hint of lavender and even rose. The oak is seamlessly integrated, adding some vanillin notes and complexity, plenty of juicy plum characters with a savoury overlay.”

Good Drinking – The Age July 30 th, 2005 – Jane Faulkner