The distinguished Medlands Vineyard lies within an exceptional pocket of ground at Dorrien on the central north Barossa Valley floor, a site long renowned for growing outstanding Shiraz. Gently sloping towards the North Para River, the microclimate benefits from cooling breezes flowing down-river from the foothills and enjoys optimum sunlight, low rainfall and low humidity.
The vineyard is comprised of ancient soils ranging from loamy sands over light clays to sandy loams over medium clays, laid down 5 million years ago when an uplift of the Eastern ranges and a sinking of the valley floor caused the central valley to fill with sediments. This unique terroir results in Shiraz of purity, elegance, tight structure and flawless balance
Varietal | Shiraz |
---|---|
Vintage | 2019 |
Country | Australia |
Region | Barossa Valley |
Volume | 750 mL |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
Peak Drinking | Now - 2040 |
Winemaker | Steven Frost |
97 Points | Campbell Mattinson, Wine Companion |
97 Points | Dave Brookes |
Bronze | 2022 International Wine and Spirit Competition |
Bronze | 2022 Perth Wine Show |
95 Points | Stuart Knox, The Real Review 2023 |
"The concentration of flavour is significant here but it's the tannin structure and the associated length that really get the heart racing. This is a bold red wine and a fantastic one. Sweet but fresh plums, fistfuls of earth and roasted spice, smoked cedar and peppercorns but with deli meat characters about the edges. Tannin here is a rolling river in itself, churning and turning the wine in spirals through the finish. In the end, the flavour sings on and on, as it only does in the best of wines."
Concentrated yet lifted aromatics of blueberry, blackberry, and bloodplum are definitively Medlands, with underlying notes of bittersweet chocolate, freshly ground coffee and warm, fragrant oak spice adding intricate layers of complexity
A palate of plush, opulent fruit and a fine, layered structure as we have come to expect of the Medlands Vineyard. Laden with pure, rich, dark berry flavours, given tight, elegance and finesse with spicy French oak. A sleek, silky texture, definitive tannin line, and lingering finish give rise to a wine of grace, stature and
presence.
Just one hour’s drive from South Australia’s capital, Adelaide, lies its gourmet capital (and wine Mecca), Barossa. One of the country’s most beautiful and historic wine regions, Barossa is a magnet for lovers of fine food and wine. Its classic Mediterranean climate, and free-draining red brown soils, makes the region ideal for growing grapes. Barossa produces excellent Shiraz, Cabernet, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Riesling and Semillon.
The 2019 growing season at Medlands Vineyard started out with a very dry winter and spring. Latespring frosts, wind and hail disrupted budburst and
flowering, and significantly affected yields. Summer was hot and very dry, with judicious irrigation required to see the vines through to harvest. The low yields
resulted in fruit with intense colour and flavour and good tannin structures.
Steve grew up in his family's restaurant business in the Yarra Valley where, at an early age, his interest in food and wine was cultivated.
Though it wasn't his first career, growing and making wine was always Steve's passion, with most weekends spent working part-time in vineyards and making wines with friends.
Steve started working in the wine industry full-time in 1999, the same year he started a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) at Charles Sturt University. Drawn to work in the Barossa in 2005, he's been making Wolf Blass reds since 2008. The winery's expansive vineyard resources, modern and traditional winemaking techniques, and careful approach to blending proved just as irresistible then as they do now.