Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz 2014

Dalwhinnie is located near the small village of Moonambel in the heart of the Pyrenees region of western Victoria, Australia and is a super-premium producer of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

At 595 meters above sea level, Dalwhinnie is the highest and most remote of the Pyrenees district vineyards. Surrounded and sheltered by the highest range, this unique bowl of vines is located in a naturally undulating trough which falls away from the hills, forming an Amphitheatre nestled into the ranges. Dalwhinnie has been growing grapes for nearly 50 years and is now a fully mature vineyard, producing ultra-premium wines that are distinctive, elegant and reflect the benefit of a dry-grown vineyard.

Made from low yielding original vineyards, Dalwhinnie Shiraz represents unsurpassed excellence from the Victorian Pyrenees region. The grapes were crushed, de-stemmed, inoculated and fermented in small open  fermenters. Temperature was controlled at around 26 degrees C. After a seven-day ferment there was a further two weeks of skin contact post-alcoholic fermentation. The wine was then pressed out in a large pneumatic press and then pumped into French oak barriques for 17–18 months oak maturation. The wine was filtered and bottled in November the following year.

Halliday Wine Companion - 96 Points