Gold Medal & 95/100 – Decanter World Wine Awards 2023
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"This time-honoured blend is our offering to Zephyrus, Greek God of the West Wind, who is often depicted as a horse due to the speed attributed to this majestic animal. The vineyards of the Greater Barossa are regularly buffeted by cooling Westerly winds creating an ideal temperature range in which to slowly ripen.
Deep crimson in colour displaying vibrant wild berry and red-spice aromas. The attractive palate displays concentrated berry fruits with fine enduring tannins and finishes with vibrancy and freshness. A modern style Barossa Shiraz which will mature beautifully for many years to come.
Sourced from fruit grown throughout the Barossa region, this wine is a blend of 10 unique vineyard sites. A combination of cooler climate Eden Valley Shiraz (46%) and warmer climate Barossa Valley Shiraz (54%) work in unison to create a complex, well-balanced wine.
Using an array of fermentation techniques, all involving extended skin contact and gentle hand-plunging. Each of the fermentations retained varying levels of whole-bunch fruit clusters from 10 to 35%, then after 12-18 days on skins each ferment was pressed into a mix of new (35%) and conditioned French oak hogsheads. After a maturation of 12 months the wine was blended, naturally clarified and bottled without finings or filtration."
95/100 Erin Larkin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2021 Vintage)
"The 2021 Zephyrus Shiraz is a brilliant wine. Luscious tannins frame a bounty of black and purple fruit in the mouth, peppering it with coal dust/graphite/black tea and black olive tapenade. It’s a really good, structural, balanced, spicy, exciting Shiraz. It is polished but earthy, too, really well handled."
95/100 JamesSuckling.com (2021 Vintage)
"This is very good, for those after quality Barossa. 2021, an unimpeachable vintage by virtue of its cooler mien, refined tannins and palpable natural degrees of freshness. While the winemaking hand is evident, with smoky barrel fermentation notes, mocha oak and a clutch of floral reduction, the flowing fruit is pure and impressive. The structural attributes are well applied, integrated and serving to compress the inherent largesse of Barossa into a nourishing, drinkable whole. A class act. Drinkable now, but best after 2027."
DWWA Judges' Comments (2021 Vintage)
"Lovely lifted brambles and raspberries, with notes of black pepper and cinnamon, lovely nuances of mint and violets. Fresh and lively, with ripe tannins."