AGRICOLA VINTNERS - Ebenezer Shiraz 2020
Wine from these vineyards are of classic Barossa shiraz style in power, richness and intensity.
Red Clay and Ironstone
Altitude: 280m
Rainfall: 400mm
The AGRICOLA VINTNERS Ebenezer Shiraz is sourced solely from Adrian Hoffmann’s vineyards in Ebenezer. The Hoffmann family have been farming their land in Ebenezer since the 1850’s and have accumulated the kind of knowledge only six generations of farming can produce. Adrian was one of our first growers for Torbreck over twenty years ago and it is a pleasure be re-acquainted with his fruit again.
Two blocks were used for the final blend: the Hill Block and Limit Lodge. The Hill Block provided a fine acid-line, brightness and energy, while Limit Lodge provided the classic Ebenezer boldness and black fruit. Limit Lodge in particular saw a very low yield, at about 40% of average, as well as low berry count and very small and concentrated berries.
These wines were aged for 12 months in barriques and rested on their lees until bottling. There was a lot of dry matter in these ferments and so a lot of grippy, powerful tannin. This wine will take some time and air to open up and reveal itself.
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The 2020 vintage was underpinned by very dry conditions from Winter 2019 and into harvest. This led to miniscule crops, in fact some of the lowest crops in the Barossa’s recent history. Harvest was mild with few heat spells. This coupled with the season’s very dry conditions allowed for ripeness at low potential alcohols and high natural acid.
The opportunity arose to pick early. Blocks started to come in late February, at low 12’s with full ripeness, concentration and grip of tannin and bright, fresh acid lines. Alcohols will not always be as low as these wines, but the wines convey this unique style that can only be brought on by such low yields and ideal ripening conditions.
Vendor (Misc) / Vineyard (Wines): AGRICOLA VINTNERS