Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz 2015

Chapel Hill Winery in McLaren Vale was built on the site of the Seaview Chapel and school house. The 1865 ironstone Chapel still stands today and is an integral feature of the popular tasting room. The winery founder, Thomas Nelson hand planted the vineyard on the estate commencing in 1972 and the first vintage was in 1975. Perched on the edge of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge in the elevated northern end of McLaren Vale.

Shallow rocky soils are a feature of the site with some of the geological formations dating back 600 million years. McLaren Vale’s maritime climate, influenced by the nearby Gulf St Vincent, provides excellent ripening conditions and minimal disease pressure. Under the guidance of winemakers Michael Fragos and Bryn Richards, Chapel Hill strives to hand craft wines with purity and balance. To pursue this belief, all of our grapes and wines are handled gently in small batches with a restrained winemaking philosophy. As a result there are no additions of any fining

The Vicar is Chapel Hill’s flagship wine and is an annual vineyard selection of Chapel Hill’s most outstanding and expressive parcels of McLaren Vale Shiraz This wine embodies our commitment to McLaren Vale, its regal variety and our belief in gentle and patient winemaking.

The Vicar Shiraz 2015 displays charismatic layers of aniseed, rosemary and cured meats, which are seamlessly interwoven into the poised savoury texture. The harmonious balance of the cascading layers of varietal flavour, palate weight, grainy tannin and acidity will ensure that the wine will develop further complexity over the next 15 to 20 years.The various vineyard parcels were harvested and fermented separately in small batch open fermenters. Gentle plunging was utilised for cap management and all of the ferments were left on skins for a minimum of 11 days.
Following gentle basket pressing, the free run and pressing fractions were combined. During the subsequent 22 month oak maturation period, the barrels were periodically racked and returned to ensure the integration of the tannins back into the structure of the wine. To preserve purity and character the wine is made with minimal additions and is allowed to clarify naturally without the use of fining or filtration.

Below average winter rainfall resulted in an early commencement to the growing season. A warmer than average summer, with no extended periods of extreme heat, resulted in a condensed vintage. Vibrant fruit flavours and acidity were still prevalent and the resultant wines were both varietal, complex and textural.