Amongst the patchwork of Wynns vineyards on the famed terra rossa strip, one special area is V&A Lane. A long, straight road surveyed in 1851 which was the old district boundary between the historical electorates of Victoria and Albert. The mature Shiraz vineyards along V&A Lane ripen early and are among the first picked each season. The resulting wines have a modern appeal being fresh and spicy, yet still maintaining the succulent and silky palate structure of a Shiraz that can proudly take its place on the world stage.
V&A Lane Shiraz presents a distinctive take on one of the most cherished grape varietals. Harvested early to emphasize a fresh red fruit spectrum and maintain naturally lower alcohol, this wine benefits from whole bunch inclusion, wild ferments, and maturation in larger oak barrels. These techniques come together to create a beautifully balanced, food-friendly wine.
I’m always buoyed when I see this classically Australian combination used in the best red wines. Interestingly in this year, both the Shiraz and Cabernet were co-fermented. The fruit is picked early with the intention of creating a lively fresh red wine style that uses wild fermentation and larger format oak, to allow the brilliant fruit to reveal itself. Sweet fruit of Shiraz is boosted by the structural contribution of the linear Cabernet. Love it.