
2021 Shaw + Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz





WINEMAKER: Adam Wadewitz & Martin Shaw
REGION: Adelaide Hills, SA
VARIETY: Shiraz
VITICULTURE: Sustainable/Organic
From close-planted (5,500 vines/hectare) low yielding vines from block two at Shaw + Smith’s Balhannah Vineyard, planted in 2005. It has a north-facing aspect and the soils are loam over clay, ironstone, quartzite, and shale. Hand picked, sorted and fermented as whole berries and whole bunches, in open fermenters, with gentle plunging and minimal working. Majority aged in 600 litre French oak puncheons (15% new) for 14 months, followed by a further 24 months in bottle.
The ninth release of this wine, and the vintage perfectly reflects the site. A complex nose laden with spice and red fruit, leads onto a poised, balanced palate. Graphite, sage, Kalamata olive brine, and satsuma plum, are some of the myriad of flavours on the palate, which is lively and medium bodied. Fruit, spice, fine grippy tannins, and acid all contribute on the long finish, a good indication of this wine’s great aging potential.
First vintage 1990 – over 30 years of winemaking experience in the region. • Founded by cousins Michael Hill Smith MW and Martin Shaw who are now supported by a wine obsessed crew of professionals. • Making modern expressions of cool-climate wines that reflect site and climate. Owners of vineyards in three key sub-regions - Lenswood, Balhannah and Piccadilly. • Committed to growing the best grapes possible and managing the vineyards in a sustainable fashion with an uncompromising pursuit of quality - all wines are fermented, aged and bottled onsite at Balhannah.