- Clare Valley, SA - $16-$26
- Screwcap
- 14.5%alc
Knappstein were among the lucky ones with their 2008 Shiraz. Having picked their grapes between the 20th and 26th of February, they were fortunate to avoid the 15 straight days of 35+ degree heat endured between the 3rd and 17th of March that season.
With a small addition of malbec (4%), this ripe, jammy shiraz combines aromas of black plums, red cherries and prunes with a faint, earthy spice tone and sweet chocolate/cedar oak. Mirroring the soft, jammy qualities of the nose, its sweetly fruited and oaked palate reveals a medium-bodied expression of simple, ripe berry and plum flavours with a sprinkling of cinnamon, which extend with sweet oak undertones and a finish that shows a little tightness and grip at the very end.
O Although Knappstein's 2008 does condense and tighten its components somewhat with extended aeration, it's still a fairly soft, jammy and simply structured shiraz that reflects its seasons difficulties. Drink to 2014.
87 points
Well now I know about Knappsteins 08 vintage! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you bring that up Sarah, because I'm a little confused about Knappstein's 08 vintage myself! The media release for the 08 Shiraz states it was harvested between the 20th and 26th of February, while its back label says most of its fruit was picked in the first week of March. Hmm....
ReplyDeleteHmmm sounds like I may have not edited my back label very well. Please refer to the specific press release and I apologise for the confusion. Cheers Julian Langworthy
ReplyDeleteThanks Julian.
ReplyDeleteI though that might be the case, but to be on the safe side I worded the original post in a 'less specific' manner. I've now edited the original post to include the correct harvest dates.
Cheers,
Chris P