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Single vineyard wine made from fruit sourced from our 40 acre block,
planted by Clarence Walter “Darkie” Liebich in 1969. The use of biological
methods, hand-pruning, and minimal irrigation all assist optimum fruit ripeness.
Vines are grown on heavy black biscay soil at Rowland Flat on the Eastern
foothills of the Barossa Valley.
The vines
suffer dead arm affliction which reduces yield but enhances flavour. “The
Darkie” represents one of the finest Barossa Shiraz wines. Its trademark style
showcases an enticingly rich nose, balanced intense flavours and subtle oak
characters.
Varietal: 100% Shiraz.
Region:
Rowland Flat, Barossa Valley.
Vineyard and Vinification:
The 2005 growing season was warmer and drier than 2004 and fruit was picked at
15.8ºB with a mere crop yield of 1.25 tonne per acre. The wine was hand plunged
and basket pressed to avoid over extraction and allowed to develop in older oak
barrels to soften the tannins. Maturation for 12 months in various aged American
70% and French 30% hogsheads has added complexity and smoothness to the intense
ripe flavours. This wine was bottled with no fining or filtration to achieve
excellent colour & flavour extraction.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: If there was ever an apt name for a wine, then “The Darkie” is it with a deep, inky red-black colour.
Nose: This opulent Barossa classic displays an inviting nose of cherries and tarry black olive overlaid with mint chocolate and subtle oak.
Palate: A rich velvety wine with ripe mulberries and chocolate counter-balanced with extremely well integrated, puckering wood tannins.
Alcohol: 15.5%.
Cellar: 10+ years
Closure: Natural cork and screw cap.
Limited quantities of the 1996-2003 vintages also available
