Description
“If you’re into the new wave of true fine wine producers of Australia you should be onto, should get onto, Domenica. Classics in the making. Rising high. Peter Graham got schooled (partly) at the great Giaconda winery in Beechworth. This is where he struts his own stuff ..’ Mike Bennie Wine Front
Peter Graham has been making wine in Beechworth since 1999, when he began working in the vineyards and winery at Giaconda. During these early years, he studied oenology at Charles Sturt University while working as assistant winemaker at Giaconda until 2012, when he left to establish Domenica.
The vineyard was first planted in 1996, an accord of family and friends. The original planting consisted of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Pinot Noir on the steeper south facing section of the property. Ensuing years saw a joint venture between Michel Chapoutier, Rick Kinsbrunner and Peter Graham expand plantings to feature Shiraz and Nebbiolo.
With more than 25 years of experience working this vineyard site, Peter brings an intimate perspective to the celebrated Beechworth Region. The wines are thoughtfully vinified on-site in small batches to capture the diversity of aspects and clonal selections in the vineyard.
Domenica sits 460m above sea level atop the granite ridge sweeping away to the south west of Beechworth. The wines are vividly reflective of their origin, a gripping mineral texture encasing the mature vine vitality of the varietals chosen to express it. Winemaking is traditional. Taste is more important than numbers. The yeasts come from the site, not a packet. Pressings, solids and lees all play their part completing the picture. The wines are carefully maintained in oak barriques before being bottled unfiltered.
From the winemaker about this wine: “Domenica Estate Shiraz comes from 30-year-old cane pruned vines, growing on steep granitic soils at 450m elevation. The south-facing slope encourages fruit with structure, tension, tannin, and complexity.
“A mild spring lead into ideal growing conditions for the 2024 season. The weather was benign, not particularly hot, cold, wet or dry. There was a short heat spike in mid-February preceding harvest.
“A medium to full bodied wine, with powerful fruit underpinned with violets, earth and white pepper. This is a classic cool climate, granite soil syrah. The deep core of fruit is
balanced by fully ripe, structured tannin. The harvest conditions provided a wine of early approachability, presence and intensity, with the necessary power and structure to age into a classic. The 2024 Estate Shiraz will develop and evolve, allowing tension and tannin to soften further for those with the patience to cellar.”
The 2024 is here and another excellent example of cool climate shiraz!
Review for preivous vintage: 94 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion “Beechworth shiraz can slip under the radar. Here is a shiraz worth a second, third look, a slow burn of a wine that builds and builds the longer it remains open, bringing an intensity of spicy flavour along with it. Anise and toasted baking spices shine and highlight deep plum and dark cherry fruits with pepper, dark chocolate and briar. The palate is mapped out in firm but fine tannins, medium bodied and elegant. That elegance – and cool spice – carries through to the finish.
94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “…Sophisticated wine with more than a little of a cool vintage Northern Rhône character here, via Beechworth. It’s quite autumnal, so to speak, but also very good.”
RRP $56 Our Special Price $44.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.