Description
The Sussex Squire Thomas Block Clare Valley Shiraz is dry grown and under vine is maintained with organic principles to ensure an active microbiological environment for the vines to grow and develop their own unique characters in the fruit.
The fruit for the Thomas Block Shiraz comes from a 2.5acres section of our dry grown vineyard which sits on a rocky ridge line with lean soils on a north westerly aspect between 470-485m above sea level. The soil struggles to hold moisture and the vines produce small bunches and small berries in the tough growing conditions which helps produce the unique intense red and blue fruit flavour profile with grippy tannins.
Hand picked and then de-stemmed and pumped into a 5 tonne open fermenter which is hand plunged and pumped over daily to break the cap and assist with skin contact. Left on skins for 10 days before filling the basket press with skins to drain off the juice (without pressing) and pumped into tank for secondary malolactic fermentation. It was then racked off and placed into 50% new and 50% old French oak barrels for 14months.
The 2021 vintage was a mild and dry vintage overall with the vines still recovering from 4 years of drought conditions that resulted in another very small vintage similar to the 2020 vintage of only 400kg/acre. The benefit of the milder conditions produced a longer ripening period and excellent flavour development in the fruit that has produced a rich and elegant wine intense red berries and blueberry with a silky tannins developing and softened with aging for 14months in 50% new and old French oak.
FOOD MATCH: Great with BBQ steak or roast beef on the spit.
CELLARING: Drink Now or if you can wait a little bit longer Cellar 8yrs +
2021 Sussex Squire Thomas Block Shiraz – NEW RELEASE
pH – 3.69
TA – 6.89
Alc – 13.9%
Released July 2022 – Only 65 dozen produced
PREVIOUS VINTAGES
2018 Sussex Squire Thomas Block Shiraz
THE WINE FRONT – Campbell Mattinson
40% new French oak. Clare Valley Shiraz, dry grown.
It somehow manages to be both soft and firm at once. It presents blue and red berried fruit flavours with swoons of cocoa, violets and mint. It’s both pretty and powerful. It’s hard to describe how distinctive this wine is but in any case, it’s good.
Rated : 92 Points
Tasted : Sep20
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $40
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2020 – 2026+
