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 of $99 or more, or just $10 for any orders less than $99. There is no minimum order quantity and you can mix and match as much as you like. Make your perfect mixed pack! In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Byron Bay we deliver with our own vans. All other areas are serviced by Australia Post.
Sydney Metro orders in the Pink Zone will be delivered the next day 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. Orders in the Blue Zone will be delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays. Everything outside these zones will be delivered by Australia Post.
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Brisbane Metro orders are picked up from our Sydney warehouse every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 12pm and delivered on Thursday or Friday. Please refer to this map to see if your address is considered Brisbane Metro here. Everything outside of this zone will be dispatched next business day with Australia Post.
Australia Wide Deliveries To the rest of Australia we use Australia Post. The Australia Post Collection Truck picks up orders from our Sydney warehouse every weekday at midday. If your order is placed before 12pm we’ll get it on the truck that day. Delivery times vary considerably with Australia Post and unfortunately there is no Express Delivery Option for wine (because it is fragile and heavy). PLEASE NOTE that we are currently seeing significant delays in the Australia Post delivery network. Strict government health and safety requirements and very high parcel volumes are causing significant backlogs at the main NSW and VIC sorting facilities. Orders are still arriving safe and sound but you may notice slower delivery times and less frequent scanning updates than usual.
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