About The Wine
Shiraz is where Eldorado Road's heritage lies, and this is their pinnacle release. It comes from an impossibly old, restored vineyard in the Glenrowan district, with the idea being to pay "tribute to the persévérance of these remarkable old vines."
Judicious winemaking has further replicated how this wine would have been made back in the vines' youth in the 1890's, with minimal intervention, open fermentation and basket pressing into French oak puncheons (half new). It's a stunning wine. It is definitely full-bodied but while it oozes power it never once feels hot, heavy or over extracted.
It's an easy, natural power, with flavours that go on and on and on. It's one of those special wines either to enjoy now or tuck away in the cellar. Magic stuff.
About Eldorado Road
Eldorado Road is one of Northern Victoria's hidden wine gems.
Paul Dahlenburg (Bear) and Lauretta Schulz (Laurie) are the two passionate vignerons behind this label.
After taking control of an impossibly old Glenrowan vineyard planted to Shiraz that they have brought back to life, the two have planted small parcels of Durif and Nero d'Avola on their property, believing that their unique terroir between Beechworth and Wangaratta is perfectly suited to produce powerful yet elegant expressions of these varieties.
The critical acclaim for these wines is flooding in. It's only early days for Bear and Laurie in their own operation, but Eldorado Road is definitely a producer to watch.
Eldorado, VIC
From The Producer
This wine is a tribute to the Perseverance of these remarkable old vines having made the voyage by sea as rootlings from France to Glenrowan back in the late 1800’s. Surviving the ravages of time they valiantly prevail today dry grown and exposed to natures elements truly reflecting a unique piece of Australian wine history.
Made as it would have been in the 1800’s, grapes are picked to flavour with an emphasis on retaining freshness in the fruit. 2017 was a dry warm year in Glenrowan, the result is a wine of power when compared with the elegant and understated 2016 vintage. This release is a full bodied wine with a firmer tannin structure whilst retaining its signature floral lifted perfume. Put simply this wine will age very gracefully. Flavours developed at a higher baume in 2017 and fruit was picked at 13.9 Baume. Handpicked, the resultant yield was a mere 3 tonne off a 15 acre vineyard, unbelievably the most fruit we have ever got.
These grapes are always the first into the winery so we have all the time in the world to fuss over them. Gently destemmed but not crushed to retain whole berries, the fruit was split into 2 open fermetors with the larger containing 20% whole bunches, 20% of the free run juice was extracted. This vineyard is interplanted with the white variety Ugni Blanc, we believe it made up approximately 1% of the grapes in 2017 and is co fermented with the Shiraz. It seems in the warmer years there is a smaller amount of Ugni Blanc in the mix.
Both ferments were kept cool and lightly hand plunged once daily as to not over extract tannin. After 17 days on skins both ferments were gently basket pressed into three French oak puncheons one new and the remaining 2 & 3 years old. 18 months in oak on full lees to build texture. This release is more akin to the 2012 release than the previous 2016 and 2014 vintages. Fuller bodied, more structured, plush, silky and perfumed. This wine showcases the beauty of dryland viticulture, truly expressing the weather conditions of the season it was grown. Unfined and lightly filtered. Bottled in July 2018. Vegan Friendly..
Blend : Shiraz (100%)
ABV : 14.3%
Closure : Screw Cap
Drink Until : 2030
Bottle Size : 750ml
Eldorado, VIC
Critic Reviews
"This deserves some respect, so don't rush it. Let it breathe and come to life, for the fruit comes off vines planted in the 1890s and there's a dash of ugni blanc in the mix given its dotted throughout the vineyard. This unfurls to reveal a delicacy and yet it's full of flavour of zesty red fruits, a hint of licorice and more besides. It's the contentment across the palate and the astonishingly fine and pure tannins that really set this apart." - Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)
"It’s perfumed. It’s tense. It’s just above medium bodied. Boysenberry, crunch of cranberry acidity, spiced biscuit, earth and apple skin. Tannin is sure and well-knit, it has bite and energy, and don’t mind me, something of an Italianate quality about it. Fresh finish, long too, but with some tar and ferrous character. I think it will live for a very long time." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
Delivery is Free for any order over $149 or more, or just $10 for any orders of $149 or less. There is no minimum order quantity and you can mix and match as much as you like. Make your perfect mixed pack!
Sydney Metro orders will be delivered the next day 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. We can guarantee delivery before Christmas as long as you get your order in by midnight 23rd of December. Please refer to this map to see if your address is considered Sydney Metro here.
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Australia Wide Deliveries outside of Sydney and Melbourne metro are all delivered with Australia Post's eParcel wine delivery service. They pick up from us at 12pm Monday through Friday. When your order has been dispatched you'll receive tracking information to your email. Unfortunately with the complications of Covid and expected Christmas surge Australia Post are being extremely vague about delivery times. You will need to have your order placed before midnight 10th of December if you want to ensure it’s there for Christmas.
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I am trying to add more of a wine to my cart but it won’t let me? This means we are running low on stock of that wine. So for example, if the website will only allow you to add 3 bottles and no more, then that is all we have of that particular wine. The good news is we may be able to order more for you. Just contact us on 1300 668 385 or hello@differentdrop.com and we'll organise the additional quantity for you.
Does Different Drop have a physical store? No. More of a warehouse/office. We do however offer a Click & Collect option from our warehouse in Ultimo, Sydney. Our warehouse address for Click & Collect is: 3 Fig St, Ultimo, 2007/ Please make sure you have placed your order before arriving at the warehouse
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More FaQs: here
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