Country: Australia Region: Langhorne Creek
Varietal: Shiraz Vintage: 2022
Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Thistledown
Description: We’ve all got a mate who, despite the calamities befalling everyone else, always lands with his bum in the butter. When everyone else sees doom and gloom, The Opportunist sees blue skies and sunshine. Love him or hate him, The Opportunist always comes out on top.
Viticulture: As we like to pick ‘on the way up’ our season began quickly with several varieties ripening at once but then progressed nicely, with the ability to pick when it suited given the settled weather.
Winemaking: The fruit for the Opportunist is picked on the way up to ripeness rather than on the way down. This way we achieve freshness and energy but not at the expense of flavour. We retain as many whole berries as possible to increase vibrancy and succulence. Winemaking is simple and is followed by 8 months on oak to increase texture and varietal expression.
Tasting: An aromatic bouquet of ripe fruits, cherries and blackcurrants, with notes of freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate, peppermint, liquorice and subtle pepper. Thick and smooth with good balanced fruit weight
Food Matches: Venison / Beef / Game / Goat Cheese
Country: South Africa Region: Western Cape
Varietal: Shiraz Vintage: 2024
Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Aloe Tree
Description:The fruit for Aloe Tree hails from the increasingly fashionable west coast of the Cape. Cool nights and sea breezes combine to extend the growing season, resulting in perfectly balanced, ripe grapes. The iconic Aloe Tree image is sure to be familiar to anyone who has travelled widely through the Cape and is an important part of the biodiversity which South Africa is famous for. The characteristic silhouette provides a backdrop to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world where wines grow in harmony with the thousands of plant species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Viticulture: The grapes come from selected vineyard blocks on the west coast. The extra warmth in this area helps develop the full body and ripe flavours of this variety. The vines are planted on Karoo clay soils that add body and texture to the wine. The vines ages vary from 10 to 25 years old
Tasting Note:Bursting with dark berry flavours of blackberry, dark cherry and plums, this Shiraz has soft and supple tannins and a white pepper finish.
Food Matches: Lamb, Burgers, Game, Duck