Whole Bunch Shiraz 2021

Review

94 Points – Mike Bennie

"As the name suggests, this is whole-bunch fermented. And it works a treat! Perfume is elevated, pretty with white pepper, rosy floral lift and mezcal-like nuances surrounding red cherry, brambly raspberry and black olive. The palate shimmies with silky texture and a faint rub of crushed rock tannin, finishing lithe, herbal and fresh. A compelling and individual take on Shiraz."

Tasting Notes

Crafted from hand-picked fruit sourced from our 20-plus-year-old dry-grown Shiraz block, this 100% whole-bunch fermented wine is fragrant, vibrant and wonderfully expressive. Aromas of white pepper, rose petals, red cherry and raspberry are complemented by savoury notes of black olive and spice. The palate is silky and finely textured with a lively, slightly crunchy character, delicate tannins and a long, fresh finish. An exciting and innovative expression of cool-climate Shiraz. 

• Vegan Friendly

Vineyard

The fruit comes from our dry-grown Mount Barker vineyard, where low-yielding vines thrive on ancient gravelly loam soils without irrigation. The cool Great Southern climate encourages slow ripening and exceptional flavour concentration, producing fruit with remarkable purity, balance and natural acidity.

Vintage Comments

The 2021 vintage followed two drier, lower-yielding seasons and returned to the dynamic, weather-driven conditions typical of the Great Southern. Regular rainfall through spring and summer, combined with periods of intense heat and drying easterly winds, created wines of exceptional flavour intensity and structure.

Winemaking

This wine was created to challenge expectations of Australian Shiraz. Hand-picked fruit from our young dry-grown Shiraz block was 100% whole-bunch fermented and basket pressed, preserving aromatic lift, spice and natural freshness. Inspired by the elegance and perfume often associated with whole-bunch Pinot Noir, the aim was to craft a Syrah-style wine with purity, energy and complexity.

Minimal intervention in the winery allows the vineyard and vintage to shine, resulting in a distinctive, savoury and beautifully perfumed Shiraz that is unlike any other in the Galafrey range.