2020 Blackjack Shiraz
Blackjack Vineyards is situated on an easterly slope, in the old Apple and Pear growing district of the Harcourt Valley on the foothills of Mt.Alexander. Although just south of Bendigo, the climate is considerably cooler, and normally blessed with “Indian Summer” autumns – cool night and warm clear day- allowing the grapes to slowly ripen. The soil is mostly very old, and not overly fertile, granitic soils. The vineyard is hand pruned and hand-harvested. The Shiraz block was planted in 1988.
The Wine
Fermented in traditional open fermenters, hand plunged and aged in small American oak barriques for 22 months.
Brick red in colour. Aromas or plums and blackberry, spice as well as aniseed and chocolate flavours against a background of fine American oak tannins.
Bottle age will allow these flavours to coalesce further to add nuance and complexity.
Perfect with rare barbecued fillet steak with a red wine sauce.
Suggested Cellaring 4-10 years
The style is clear here. Masses of sweet, plum-driven fruit married to an (integrated) overlay of coconut oak, with mint and dark chocolate characters in there too. It’s overt, it’s up-front, it’s dense and it’s convincing. Leather, blackberry, and earth characters sweep in as it breathes, and a fair curl of tannin runs through the back half too. It’s not subtle, but it’s very well done.