Tasted at Cellar Door, decanted for 20 minutes.
The fruit is from a heritage-listed single vineyard with 86 year old vines.
Shiraz 99%
Voignier 1%
There was incredible hype surrounding the 2011 vintage. When the 2014 was completed comparisons were already being made. Time will tell which is better, suffice to say 2014 was outstanding, with some reliable Hunter winemakers and vignerons declaring the vintage of the century. We shall see.
I usually do not comment on winemaking, but both Keith and his son Alisdair spend so much time in the Rhone it is worth mentioning. This is taken directly from the website regarding the winemaking philosophy for the ’14 Kester.
“After vintage experience with Paul Jaboulet in the Rhone Valley (France), and having been able to observe the making of “La Chapelle” close-hand, this winemaking incorporates similar Rhone Valley techniques for flavour complexity and palate length. Sourced from a Heritage-listed old dry-farmed Hunter Valley vineyard, the ‘Kester’ grapes are fermented with a trace of Viognier in open vats for 4 weeks, with plunging by hand. It is matured for 20 months in a mixture of fine French oak barriques.”
Bright, dense purple in the glass. A very concentrated nose of plums and cherries dominate the senses. Supported by aniseed, dark chocolate and a wonderful perfume from the French oak. It is very intense yet entirely in balance. Intriguing stuff from the normally savory Hunter Shiraz. It is a big wine on the palate. Rich and textural. The fruit is balanced by high acid and high tannins, which deliver incredible length. Make no mistake, while this wine is big, but it also incredibly well balanced and carries an elegance that defies its profile. Without exception, the most impressive Hunter Shiraz I have tried.
The perfect storm of old vines, meticulous winemaking and a great vintage.
Drink 2025 – 2050.
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| Our contribution |
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| Keith Tulloch preparing the line-up |