Germans were the first free immigrants into Australia in the 1850s onwards. They planted Shiraz in Barossa. Germans also invented letter-press in the 1500s.The suspicion around the “magick” of a printing press at the coupled with the inky hands of the printers meant that the art became known as the Black Craft. The wine is an homage to both the German influence of the oldest wine making in Australia, as well as the letterpress.
A compelling, dark and rich chocolately beast. This is a classic Barossa Shiraz with intense savoury flavours of thick blackberry compote, black pepper and typical iron-rich beefy flavours. Not a hint of jam here, no sweetness, this is serious Shiraz for grown-ups with balanced acidity, a touch of cocao powder in the finish and tremendous length.
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa's prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. They work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open top fermenters to best capture the Barossa's magical flavours. They have a lot of fun with labels because, well because they can. It's only wine after all…
This Shiraz is sourced from the finest available vineyard sites across the premium Northern Barossa Valley including for the most part Greenock, Western Ridge and Ebenezer. Aged 11 months in a variety of oaks, all American and French, new and old, around 35% new. All oaks were AP John, Barossa coopered.
As usual with Smalltown, it was fermented in open fermenters. They don't set the blades too close together during crushing so a fair bit of whole berry in the ferment which gives the wine generous fruit and soft tannins.
As the name implies, black is the key - anything chargrilled would be superb here, so think griddle pans and barbecues!
