Grey Label Cabernet Shiraz was sourced from a region as unique as the character itbestows upon the wine. The vineyards of Langhorne Creek lie on deep, rich, alluvial soils along the banks of the Bremer River. Flooding of the river provides natural
irrigation while at the same time depositing silts and sediments that contribute to the unique soil qualities, impacting the resultant wine’s character and personality.
Individual vineyard batches were fermented in small open-top fermenters for 5 to 10 days. Plunging and gentle irrigation were used to work the cap and optimise flavour, colour and tannin extraction, providing for concentration and depth of fruit, while keeping tannins plush, hallmarks of the Grey Label style. Selected batches completed fermentation in barrel, contributing mid-palate texture, while others finished fermentation on skins, providing structural length and focus.
Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz |
---|---|
Vintage | 2019 |
Country | Australia |
Region | Langhorne Creek |
Volume | 750 mL |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
Peak Drinking | Now - 2027 |
Winemaker | Marie Clay |
95 Points | James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2023 |
94 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
93 Points | Ken Gargett |
93 Points | Ray Jordan |
92 Points | Mike Bennie |
92 Points | Jane Faulkner |
91 Points | Jeni Port |
Bronze | 2022 Royal Queensland Wine Show |
Mike Bennie
"Soft, supple, generous and lush. A deeply flavoured but lightly chewy red set to medium weight and just above. Cassis, dark chocolate, new leather, a bit of mint, cedar and clove. Classic stuff. Very even, good length, just a little scratchy in tannin but finds its mojo anyway. Nicely done."
Jane Faulkner
"What a colour - dense, dark purple; oodles of ripe plums dipped in dark chocolate with a dash of pepper and eucalypt. A sweet-sour acid edge and no shortage of varnishy, toasty oak flavoured with clove and star anise so this does need cellaring time."
Ken Gargetts
"This one has a vibrant purple colour with lovely softness and plushness exuding from the glass. Chocolate, cassis, black fruits, cherries. Plenty of vanillin oak, as you’d expect from Blass (the motto was once, ‘no wood, no good’), but it is nicely balanced. Seamless, juicy, delicious – what more could you possibly want from a red? It finishes with good length and plenty of grip.. There is plenty of time to contemplate when best to drink this wine – any time over the next decade should work. A fine red, so very much in the style of Blass."
McLaren Vale lies nestled between the Mt Lofty Ranges and the rolling white sand beaches of Gulf St Vincent. With its warm Mediterranean climate, relaxed coastal ambience and superb local produce, McLaren Vale is a melting pot of food, wine and the arts: the ultimate epicurean destination. The region is renowned for its soft and velvety Shiraz, with pronounced berry, spice and chocolate flavours.
Vintage Conditions
Winter rainfall was well below average, however early
summer rains helped set up canopies for the warm, dry
season ahead. Langhorne Creek’s reliable, cooling
southerly breezes during most evenings helped temper
the hot late-summer days. Warm conditions during
vintage encouraged a quick harvest to capture natural
acidity, fresh fruit flavours and excellent quality.
Wolf Blass winemaker Marie Clay discovered wine through her Dad's stellar collection of South Australian reds. Like all good fathers, he stocked up on the birth year of his two daughters. In Marie's case, that just happened to be a lovely bottle of 1979 Wolf Blass Black Label, which was cracked at her 21st birthday.
After graduating in 2000 from the University of Adelaide with first Class honours in Oenology, Marie received the Southcorp wine scholarship. This allowed her to travel and work with the company’s best winemakers across the Australian wine regions of Coonawarra, Barossa, Sunraysia and Great Western. Following these experiences, Marie worked with Lindeman’s for 4 years at both their NSW and Victorian wineries, overseeing white wine production.
In December 2006 Marie joined the Wolf Blass winemaking team in the Barossa, where she relished the opportunity to work with premium red wines from vineyard to bottle. She loves working in a modern winery that allows the fruit's potential to be realised. Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale, the heartland regions of the Grey Label range, are particularly close to her heart.