Description
Established in 2000 Massena was begun by Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins who until 2006 were employed full time at other Barossa wineries (Dan as winemaker at Torbreck and Jaysen as general manager at Turket Flat). All Massena wines are from 100% Eden Valley and Barossa valley fruit from dry-farmed, low yielding vines up to 155 years age located in the north-western Barossa. Working mostly with traditional Barossa varieties, they have also established experimental vineyards of other varieties like Roussanne, Viognier, Barbera, Primitivo, Dolcetto, Tinta Amarela, Graciano, Saperavi and Tannat.
Wines are made using traditional techniques such as open fermentation and basket pressing and are aged in tank or seasoned French oak; no American oak is used here for maturation. All varieties are hand harvested and fermented using indigenous yeasts and wines from each vineyard are raised and kept separate until final blending. These are wines of striking purity and natural intensity that reflect their origins and which offer outstanding value.
About this wine from the winemakers: “Originally this wine came from the sixty-year-old Shiraz vines from Greenock that were about to be uprooted. They were saved in the eleventh hour and we used the fruit to make this extraordinary wine. Sub Regions: Western Ridge, Marananga, Tanunda.
“Shiraz for The Eleventh Hour is sourced from vineyards located in the Greenock, Koonunga Hill, Tanunda and Marananga sub regions of the Barossa. The red clay belt of the Western Ridge running through Greenock creates an ideal environment to grow shiraz. Fruit from this region is juicy, spicy and concentrated. Marananga and Tanunda has deeper red brown soils giving lifted red fruit aromatics and black olive characters, with the red clays of Koonunga giving power and intensity ,with a firm tannin line. Harvesting takes place in the cool of the morning with the fruit destemmed without crushing. We ferment each parcel in separate batches in open fermenters before basket pressing and ageing in seasoned oak. The wine was moved to tank in individual components for several months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration in December 2024.
“The 2022 has a complex bouquet of vanilla pod, blueberry and dark plum with hints of roasted hazelnut, black pepper, star anise and black pepper. The svelte palate has fresh acidity keeping the fruit bright, with fresh roasted coffee and blackcurrant fruit flavours supported.” Jaysen Collins, Winemaker.
Review for 2021 .. 95 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “Old-vine shiraz sourced from the Barossa’s northwest corner, from a strong vintage for the region. Plush satsuma plum and blueberry fruits dredged with spice and flecked with citrus blossom top notes that slide effortlessly across the palate. There is a pleasing velvety flow and energy to this wine as it moves in the mouth; fine, pumice-stone tannins providing ample support and a finish that lingers with pure berry fruits and spice. Nice one.”
RRP $48 Our Special Price $36.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
