Grape Variety: 100% Shiraz

Growing Region: Clare Valley, Australia

Owner / Head Winemaker: Kevin Mitchell

TASTING NOTE:
Kevin and his talented team at Kilikanoon - though located in the Clare Valley, work with over 2,000 hectares of prime vineyards from selected sites throughout South Australia.

This 2010 'Covenant' Shiraz is more than the sum of its parts - and superbly represents the Clare Valley's unique elevated terroir and varietal signature. In the Clare Valley the 2010 vintage was a classic, and ideal for Shiraz, with the growing season characterised by warm days and cool nights allowing ripening to occur thoroughly and evenly throughout the canopy and harvesting occurred with the fruit at optimum flavour and tannin development.

All the fruit was handpicked and selected from six older vineyard sites, with each parcel fermented separately and allowed to age in small French oak barrels for 22 months, before final blending and bottling in February 2012.

In the glass you have a deep red colour with a crimson hue. On the nose this rich, expressive Shiraz is showing an impressive bouquet of dark cherries, cloves and black olives. On the palate those dark cherries come to the fore, along with a multitude of dried spices, all beautifully wrapped up in fine French oak and dry well integrated fruit and oak tannins. Crafted in a full texturally style, however possessing a balanced finesse, with a lingering persistence of ripe berry flavours on the finish. Decant well for 45-60 minutes and serve at 15-17C.

CELLARING POTENTIAL:
Approachable and drinking well this season; though will repay patients and another 8-10 years.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCHES:
Perfect wine pairing with rich meat cuisine, lamb shanks and rich pasta dishes, enjoy.

A Shiraz that will redefined your understand.