Description
When leading Barossa winemaker Kym Teusner’s friend Neil Pahuja from ‘the big smoke’ said he had the wish (and the cash) to get into fine wine production, he asked that Kym keep an eye out for something special. Shortly thereafter a vineyard that Kym had coveted from his beginnings in the Barossa Valley came onto the market. The 20ha vineyard is located on Roennfeldt Road, straddling one of the highest points of the boundary between Greenock and Marananga, perched on the northern end of the ironstone ridge that lays claim to some of the Barossa’s most famous. Indeed, right next door is the source of our own Righteous Shiraz, Torbreck’s Laird, Two Hands, Greenock Creek and the list goes on. At 315m ASL it sits among the most elevated sites on the ‘valley floor’ and being on the end of the ridge there are 3 distinct aspects to the block – east being planted predominantly to shiraz, North to Cabernet Sauvignon and west to Grenache and Mataro. As Kim says “It doesn’t come any sweeter than this.”
“The vineyard’s location has led to lean and depleted stoney soils that significantly limit possible yields. The outstanding geology of the site and the suitability to grow cracking grapes on these shallow, ancient soils was just another major draw card. Traditionally the fruit has been locked into lengthy contracts to the corporate end of town, consistently producing a small crop of coveted fruit that has oft found its way into their icon wines. I can certainly see why. The wines are distinctly Barossan with the depth and concentration that you expect from Marananga and Greenock but have that site driven savoury balance that I always long for.” Kim Teusner.
James Halliday awarded Utopos a 5 Stars Winery and named it in Top 10 New Wineries 2020 after the first release of the 2016 wines receiving 95, 96 and 97 points respectively. “Everything is just so right: great vineyard, great winemaker, great story, great packaging.”
Vines planted between 1974 and 2000. 90% Shiraz 10% Mataro. Open fermented as separate parcels and blended post barrel maturation. Selective machine harvested
Transferred direct to open fermenter. 7 day cold soak and 5-7 day fermentation with cultured yeast acclimatised and added at the end of cold soak. Pumped over twice daily and fermented between 22 and 28 degrees C. Slotted screen bag pressed to tank. Racked off gross lees to barrel after a few days settling for malolactic fermentation. Approximately 40% new French oak (Hogsheads) for around 2 years. Balance being 2nd and 3rd fill French oak.
About this wine from the winemaker “A hallmark of the Utopos Vineyard on Roennfeldt Road is the pitch perfect acid/ tannin balance we can achieve in fully ripened fruit. This provides for delicious, highly approachable wines in their youth, whilst enabling them to develop over a 10-15 year period, and maybe more.
The wine shows a beautiful spice lead on the nose, with black fruits following. The key to the character of this wine is the stunningly fresh acidity, making the wine so pure, bright and fresh on the palate. It’s definitely a handsomely proportioned wine, abundant in flavour concentration, but the tannins and acid bring structure and freshness to the pure fruit that drives down the length of the palate. This will really hit the mark as a 10 year old, and kick on for another decade after that.”
96 points, Tyson Stelzer for James Halliday Wine Companion “90/10% shiraz/mataro from vines aged 18–44 yo. No whole bunch. Matured 2 years in 40% new French oak hogsheads. Uniting the personalities of Marananga and Greenock, this is a shiraz at once delightfully plush and polished and magnificently structured for the cellar. Waves of deep black fruits, black pastilles and licorice wash with high-cocoa dark chocolate oak. Lively acidity and fantastically defined tannins sweep through a very long finish. One bottle was cork scalped. Screw caps please.”
James Suckling 94 Points.
98++ Points – Stuart McCloskey, Vinorium UK – “As before, the nose is more concentrated than the 2017 – quite considerably and hasn’t changed from the profusion of violets, blackberry, blueberry compote, Indian ink, asphalt. Cooling graphite and cold steel which I love. Mint is emerging with savoury bay leaf. I detect some saltiness / salinity on the finish which is another big tick. The palate has picked up the pace against the 2017 (who said there is no vintage variation in Australia!). Unlike many of Australia’s cult wines (RunRig is a perfect example), this is not overdone, cooked or out of sorts. This is rich, luxurious and delivers an unstoppable wave of ripe blue and black fruits. Almost exotic. The cooling feel to the fruit is a masterstroke as is the whisper of freshness and filigree tannins. Amazingly balanced, extremely long and I did not spit a drop (excuse any typos). A monumental, powerfully structured wine with the potential to age for decades. Decant for 4-6 hours.”
RRP $75 Our Price $65.99 – Very Limited
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