Description
“The Kalleske family has been farming this remarkable Greenock vineyard since 1855 and Laughing Jack was formed in 1999. These wines come mostly from this site blessed with old vine, dry grown Shiraz planted in a contoured pattern. Low yields and careful fruit selection in the winery results in some of the purest Barossa Shiraz we have encountered. Winemaker Shawn Kalleske’s understanding of his vineyards is superb, as is his winemaking. In appropriate vintages, Laughing Jack also releases a range of prestige cuvees in tiny quantities.” Bibendum.
5 Star Winery, James Halliday …“The Kalleske family has many branches in the Barossa Valley. Laughing Jack is owned by Shawn, Nathan, Ian and Carol Kalleske, and Linda Schroeter. The lion’s share of the vineyard is planted to shiraz, with lesser amounts of semillon and grenache. Vine age varies considerably, with old dry-grown shiraz the jewel in the crown. A small part of the grape production is taken for the Laughing Jack Shiraz. As any Australian knows, the kookaburra is also called the laughing jackass, and there is a resident flock of kookaburras in the stands of blue and red gums surrounding the vineyards.”
In 1893, the Moppa district witnessed a mini gold rush, which saw many mine shafts dug into Moppa Hill. A reported 530 ounces of gold was mined from the area! Moppa Hill is one of Laughing Jack’s most prized vineyard sites and is already well known for its Old Vine Grenache and Moppa Block Shiraz (Block 4).
Sourced from a single vineyard known as Block 6 on the eastern slope of Shawn Kalleske’s Moppa Hill property. This 6-acre vineyard is managed using sustainable viticulture, with an emphasis placed on natural biodiversity within the vineyard. It is a very low yielding vineyard—on light sandy soil over orange-red clay loam, along with fragments of ironstone and sandstone—and produces wine with distinctive aromas and complexity. The grapes were handpicked and fermented as 95% destemmed and whole berries, and 5% whole bunch, in small open top fermenters. Free run straight to barrel and the skins basket pressed. Maturation for 20 months in 12% new French barriques, 68% seasoned French oak puncheons and 20% second-fill American oak hogsheads. Unfined and unfiltered.
“We’ve toned down on the oak this vintage and I believe this has really allowed Moppa’s personality to shine through this cuvée.” Shawn Kalleske
This is an intense and savoury Barossa red with dark plum, anise and violet-noted fruit complexed by cedary oak. It’s a powerful yet savoury wine, with plenty of sappy freshness from the tannins. The finish is long and fragrant. Again, it is a terrific value.
95 points, James Halliday “Whole berries open-fermented, 14 days on skins, 20 months in 80% French (12% new) and 20% American hogsheads. This is very full-bodied the power and concentration deriving from the high quality vineyard, not excessive extraction in the winery, nor even new oak. It has a spring in its step, with spice and dark licorice threaded through blackberry.”
RRP $40 **Special Dozen Buy .. Only $29.99 when you buy 12 of this wine**
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