Description

Bindi Pyrette 2015 according to Michael Dhillon  “A reasonably large, for us, proportion of whole bunches (20%) are included in the vats with the majority of the fruit being de-­stemmed but not crushed. A small amount of sulphur is added on the first day and the ambient yeast takes about four days to begin the fermentation. This wine spent 11 months in French barrels, of which 10% were new, before bottling. This is a complex and layered Shiraz expressive of its origin and handing. There is a complex array of red and dark fruits, liquorice as well as fresh herb aromatics from some whole bunch and whole berry inclusion in the ferment. There is no discernible dominating characteristic, but rather a fine, subtle interplay of complexities. The plate is bright, mouth filling, both plush and vibrant with a gently chewy, flowing finish. As per previous vintages, five to seven years will see this wine at its most complex and textured and it will hold well for several years beyond.”

Pyrette Heathcote Shiraz is sourced from a vineyard near Colbinabbin on the Mount Camel Range. The specific parcel of vines this fruit comes from is at the highest block on deep red, rocky Cambrian soils. On a cooler easterly facing slope the picking date is carefully assessed. The order is to capture fruit vibrancy, freshness and mouthfilling richness and length of the region. The wine is made in 1000 litre open vats, fermented with ambient yeast and matured in French barrels, 20% new. The yield, harvest date and winemaking are deliberately aimed at producing a wine of regional authenticity in a style highlighting fragrance, vitality, finesse and harmony.

Heathcote

The glamour region of Victoria for lovers of big reds. And the core production is Shiraz and Cabernet with ‘guts’. But it is a region that offers a lot of diversity when you scratch the surface. The cooler southern parts border Macedon and make lovely aromatic wines. There is a lot of experimentation and adoption of more drought resistant Italian varieties to great effect too.

Shiraz/Syrah

A bit of a chameleon, Shiraz can change how it looks depending on terroir and/or wine maker influence. The Syrah based wines of Northern Rhone are dry and austere while the Shiraz of Barossa is rich and fleshy. A variety that lends itself to long aging but can be drunk at any time of its evolution.