Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz 2015

Sons of Eden is a partnership between Corey Ryan, winemaker and Simon Cowham, viticulturist. Their focus is to represent the flavours, layers and terroir of the Barossa Valley. Fruit is sourced from premium sites throughout the region, with Riesling taken from high altitude sites in the cool Eden Valley and the Shiraz, Mourvèdre and Grenache obtained from the warmer Barossa Valley floor. Care is taken in the winery to ensure both the quality of the fruit and the individuality of the site are fully expressed in the wines.

This wine is a blend of 20 different individual Shiraz parcels, made from fruit grown from throughout the Barossa. The blend of cooler climate Eden Valley Shiraz (60%) and warmer climate Barossa Valley Shiraz (40%), combine beautifully to enhance the palate structure and aromatics. An array of fermentation techniques, were utilised all involving extended skin contact and gentle hand-plunging. Each of the fermentations retained varying levels of whole-bunch fruit clusters from 5 to 50%, then after 20-25 days on skins each ferment was pressed into a mix of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. After a maturation of 18 months the wine was blended, naturally clarified and bottled without finings or filtration. Production: 1500 doz ,cellaring potential, optimum year 2025

"From 18-60+yo vines in the Barossa (61%) and Eden Valleys (39%), various ferments, varying levels of whole bunch inclusion, all involving extended skin contact, matured in new and used French hogsheads for 18 months. A seriously complex and intense wine, combining raw power and finesse on the prodigiously long palate, piano keys from all parts of the keyboard being played from the opening stanza to the aftertaste, sour cherries and dried herbs, licorice and black pepper soprano to the bass of blackberry, in a coruscating display of daring to be different shiraz. Drink by 2040.
97 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion"