Granite Hills Shiraz 2018

The Shiraz is now sitting at an average vine age of 49 years. It was plated by Gordon Knight shortly after the initial plantings. The Shiraz sits at the south/south western end of the block (Cobaw Ridge side of the hill). The shiraz is more of a Rhone style compared to the Heathcote styles seen at the northern end of Macedon and of course the Heathcote region itself. Gordon Knight planted shiraz not just due to its popularity but on that section of the vineyard due to its smaller granite soil breakdown similar to many areas in the Rhone Valley. Llew keeps Hermitage front of mind when making his Shiraz. It sees 2 years in barrels. 90% French and 10% American oak with 10% new French. Open ferment with hand plunging, no whole bunch at all and just a tad of whole berry. The south western side is technically the warmest section of the vineyard producing more of the white pepper character that has become synonymous with this benchmark Australian Shiraz.