Shaw and Smith Balhannah Archive Release Shiraz 2016

BALHANNAH VINEYARD The spark that ignited the Single Vineyard project for Shaw + Smith began with the Balhannah Vineyard. Early on, the Shaw + Smith team recognized it as an exceptional site for Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and later Gamay, as well as, undeniably, Shiraz. It wasn’t just their confidence in the vineyard itself but its distinct expression of the Adelaide Hills that demanded it be shared with the world.

Situated between 340-380 meters above sea level, the vineyard surrounds the winery and tasting rooms. Its soils are a mix of free-draining sandy loams over red clay, scattered with ironstone, chunks of quartzite, and shale. Of the total plantings in the Balhannah Vineyard, approximately 8.5 hectares are dedicated to Shiraz, with Block 2 being the cornerstone of Shiraz production.

The mix of clones includes historic ones such as the Best’s clone and SAVII 17, alongside newer plantings like 470, 2626, and 1654. Viticulturist Murray Leake varies his approach depending on the clone and block. For example, early defoliation techniques are used in Block 2 before flowering, to reduce bunch and berry size, which intensifies berry flavour. In contrast, lateral plucking is applied to clones like 470 and 1654, promoting early sun exposure without compromising their naturally small bunch size.

The abundant sunshine of 2016 and low winter and spring rainfall was a lesson in how the Balhannah site managed heat stress, with the welcome rain of January this is a warmer vintage with serious street credit. The fact is Balhannah shows well in both warm and cool years, as Shiraz can when planted in the right spot. Here there is both a basket of red and black fruits. Two tone mulberries, bilberry and dark cherries. Lifted caper leaf and a smattering of allspice. What’s remarkable in this warmer vintage is the steep waterfall of acidity, it’s slinky and forces the trajectory of the wine forward.