THE WILLOWS VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2021

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"The Willows has been our home since 1845, when `JG` Scholz first arrived in the Barossa. Seven generations on, we continue to farm our unique parcel of land in the Barossa.

Deep crimson in colour, powerful but graceful, showing fine balance and structure. The wine opens with spicy, dark berry notes, revealing hints of sweet cedar spice. Richly aromatic and velvety, full bodied and packed with plum, blueberry, cloves, and cinnamon spices, finishing long with silky tannins.

Destemmed and fermented to dryness. 8 days total on skins. Basket pressed to tank. Upon completion of MLF transferred to barrel for 24 months maturation in 80% French and 20% American oak hogsheads. We intend for the wine to be approachable as a young wine, but with ample structure to allow for cellaring.

2021 was a textbook vintage and will be remembered for excellent quality wines from the Barossa Valley. Bud burst happened mid-September, with flowering in mid-November. Spring was wet, but we finished with a dry summer, the mild temperatures resulting in a long, even ripening period, giving the chance for the grapes to develop maximum flavour, whilst retaining freshness. Harvest began in February, and finished at the start of April, with conditions that can only be described as perfect with mild to warm days, no heat spikes, and lovely cool nights ,combining for a lovely pace to vintage 2021!"

91/100 Cameron Douglas MS, April 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"An inky dark red core with stained tears and sheeting across the glass lead to a bouquet and palate of concentration and style. Bold aromas and flavours of black currant and baked red fruits, brown sugar, apple and blackberry pie, iron and toasty smoky flavours. Very easy on the palate with moderate tannins, ripe and dissolve easily, medium+ acid line and a persistent fruit led finish. Balanced and well made, a wine so very easy to drink on its own or with food. Best from day of purchase through 2029."

Reviews for the 2020 vintage below…

5 Stars & 94/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, September 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"It's superbly rich and enticing on the nose showing black/blueberry, violet, toasty oak and mixed spice aromas, leading to a wonderfully flavoursome palate delivering succulent fruit intensity backed by silky texture, finishing impressively long and satisfying. At its best: now to 2035."