Description
Mount Horrocks Wines is operated by proprietor/winemaker Stephanie Toole, who restricts production to approximately 3,500 cases per annum in order to achieve her aims of quality and single vineyard expression. All three estate-owned Clare Valley vineyards, totalling ten hectares, are ‘A certified’ by Australian Certified Organic (ACO). James Halliday says “Stephanie Toole has never deviated from the pursuit of excellence in the vineyard and winery. She has three vineyard sites in the Clare Valley, each managed using natural farming and organic practices. The attention to detail and refusal to cut corners is obvious in all her wines. 5 Red Star Winery”
Stephanie carefully crafts “essentially hand-made food wines with emphasis on structure as well as generous fruit flavours”. Only estate grown grapes are used and these are hand-picked and gently handled under conditions that ensure the varietal and site-specific flavours in the resultant wine, as well as its organic status, are retained. As no finings have been found necessary the wines are all suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Only the finest French oak barriques are used for those wines spending time in barrel.
About this wine: This wine has become acknowledged for the distinctly ‘European approach’ that Stephanie has always taken. But what does ‘European approach’ mean? One quarter of the hand-picked fruit is whole-bunch foot crushed to give more perfume, while the remainder is crushed and fermented for more palate weight. Both components then spend 18 months in French oak barriques. Stephanie’s aim has always been to produce expressive and poised examples of the variety – a wine that’s both fresher and lower in alcohol. However, this is not achieved by simply picking the grapes earlier, which can result in a leaner wine. One benefit of a balanced vineyard is the achievement of full flavoured grapes earlier, so a moderate alcohol, fresh yet full flavoured palate is possible. “Perhaps the term ‘balanced’ rather than European would better describe where I’m at now” says Stephanie. This latest shiraz certainly reflects that.
Vibrant cherry red. Lovely, bountiful juicy dark fruits and plush oak with hints of lush tobacco leaf. Full bodied and intensely flavoursome, yet not in any way heavy, the dark red and black fruit, earthy tannins and balanced acid deliver a beautifully rounded wine to enjoy now through to over a decade. A lovely, lovely wine that you will find it difficult to keep your hands off.
95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review “Deep-ish, bright red-purple hue with a bright cherry and spice aroma, the palate elegantly cast with refined tannins and great style. Indeed, unusual levels of both spice and elegance for shiraz from this region. Intense and focused, spritely and lingering, with a firm finish that presages good cellaring prospects.”
94 points, Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion “ Lush and rich with very dark berry fruitiness the mainstay with a support act of tobacco, clove and cinnamon in a brown spice melange and a flicker of choc-mint in the mix. Scents are more fruit-driven, the palate showing the glue of fine but prominent woody oak with spice as the overarching theme. That being said, it has pleasure in impressive concentration, the palate-staining intensity a feat. It delivers on the promise.”
RRP $59 *Our Special Price $49.50 when you buy 6 or more* LIMITED STOCKS
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