Tyrrell's Vat 9 Hunter Valley Shiraz 2011

Murray Tyrrell created the Winemaker’s Selection range back in 1965, when, with the assistance of Len Evans, he set out to determine the best wines from each vintage. He named these wines after the casks in which they were matured; for instance, the first Chardonnay we made went into cask number 47, so it became Vat 47 Chardonnay, or Pinot Chardonnay as it was then called. In 1974, having discovered that we had up to six casks from the same vineyard block that all tasted much the same, we brought the selection down to about 12 wines in total - a mixture of whites and reds. The early 2000s saw a further consolidation with the inauguration of the Sacred Sites range and the expansion of our Single Vineyard program. Today, the Winemaker’s Selections are estate-grown on the various blocks that form the wines that we believe best represent our land and house style. These wines are only bottled in years when we believe that the quality is high enough to meet our exacting standards.

Vat 9 Shiraz is sourced from the oldest and best blocks on the Tyrrell Estate ‘Ashmans’, where the oldest vines date back to 1892. The majority of the blend is made from fruit from the Weinkeller and Short Flat vineyards. All of these blocks feature soils that are ideal for growing super-premium Shiraz.

"Bright, clear crimson-purple; the grapes come from the oldest and best blocks on the estate Ashmans Vineyard, with its striking red volcanic clay soils; hand-picked and fermented in open vats before maturation for 16 months in new and used 2700-litre French casks. However good Johnno's Shiraz may be, this wine has greater intensity, drive and length, with persistent fine tannins and positive but balanced oak. 97 points, Wine Companion (August 2012)"

"This classic projects a tannin texture and seamless fragrance similar to Pinot Noir. It is a pretty, elegant Vat 9 of effortless poise and understated black fruits. Tyson Stelzer 96 points!"