Berton Vineyard Winemaker's Reserve Shiraz Padthaway, 2018

2018 was one of the smallest harvests in Padthaway on record, at 37% below the five-year average. No wonder then that this Shiraz has incredible richness and concentration. Dense black purple in colour, it oozes blackberries and smoky aromas. Smooth and rich on the palate, it is full bodied with juicy fruits, a blackberry acidity leading to lingering bitter cherries, and smoky notes on the finish. Grapes were harvested over a three-week period between February and March 2018 and fermented in small batches to dryness. Wines were then racked onto French oak for malolactic. This is a big bold and flavoursome wine at 15% alcohol.