KALLESKE MOPPA SHIRAZ 2023

Perfumed black fruits and flowers, this is deeply satisfying old vine Barossa Shiraz, with a touch of Petit Verdot and Viognier adding colour and dark/floral nuances. Kalleske's story began in 1853 with the Moppa vineyard, where sandy loam over red clay allow vines to thrive in Barossa's heat. Expect finesse but heaps of power and pleasure. Hedonistic yet artisan and organic.

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"In 1853 our Kalleske farm and vineyard was established at Moppa, a small sub-district of Greenock in the Barossa’s North-West.  The Moppa district was a flourishing settlement of pioneering farming families and gold miners. There were few schools in the region, so local parents established the Moppa Public School in 1873 to give their children a formal education. Located on our Kalleske property, generations of the Kalleske family attended this school until its closure in 1935.

Aromatically it is classic Moppa. There are engaging notes of dark blue fruits, sweet spice, floral lift, and a hint of toasty oak, all in concert with each other. The prototypicality continues to the rich, full-bodied, and wholly balanced palate. There is a beautiful mesh of blue and black fruits, with ripe generosity neatly proportional with fresh vinosity. It is very richly flavoured, with integrated natural, yet notable, tannins giving a solid backbone and pleasant dryness.  The oak barrel maturation is classy and well-unified providing another band of flavour. Completing this harmonic wine is a long, fruit-driven finish.

The Shiraz was harvested in numerous batches from March to April.  One lot of Shiraz was co-fermented on the skins of Viognier.  The Petit Verdot is a late ripener and was harvested late April.  All batches were wild fermented in open top fermenters with hand pump-overs twice a day during fermentation.  After 7 to 14 days on skins the fermented grapes were traditionally pressed.  The wine was aged in hogshead barrels for thirteen months.  Approximately 20% new French, American and Hungarian oak was used with the balance seasoned barrels.   On completion of maturation, a portion of Petit Verdot and Shiraz/Viognier was blended for added complexity."

94/100 Dave Brookes, James Halliday's Wine Companion (2023 Vintage)
"Deep magenta-edged crimson with aromas of plum conserve, blueberry and boysenberry fruits cut with hints of fine spice, cola, licorice, dark chocolate, fruitcake, pan juices, olive tapenade and earth. Full bodied and fruit pure with a powdery tannin backdrop and some nice sinew to accompany the plush dark and black fruits on the back end."