Ballast Stone Estate Shiraz 2002
Style: Red Wine
Variety: Shiraz
Closure: Cork
Ballast Stone Estate Shiraz 2002
Pick up
Burke Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
Producer: Ballast Stone
Country: Australia
Region: Currency Creek
Vintage: 2002
Critic Score: 90 and ★★★★★
Alcohol: 14.0%
Size: 750 ml
Drink by: Now
Top 100 of the 2004 Sydney International Wine Competition
The Shaw family have been wine grape growers since 1975 when they first planted vines in the foothills of McLaren Vale. Then came the decision to produce wine under their own label and a site at Currency Creek (a little south of McLaren Vale) was chosen. In November 2000, John Loxton was appointed winemaker, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his 19 years at Maglieri Wines - where he had won numerous Australian and International trophies.
Results came swiftly, with the 2001 Ballast Stone Estate shiraz winning gold at the prestigious Visy Board 2002 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge. It was the fifth placed wine at 18.5 points (only 10 gold medals were awarded) out of 217 entries from throughout Australia.
Well, the follow-up 2002 is if anything a better wine and with a little time in the cellar will be magnificent.
Expert reviews
"Rich, ripe berry, cool climate Shiraz. Lovely nose. On the palate, nice and viscous. Quite thick, although some talcum like tannins. The kind of tannins that will evolve very well. This is a very good, very young Shiraz and it dealt with the food without any problem. I'd love to have some of this wine in my cellar. Not perfect yet because of those tannins, but this will evolve into a very fine wine." Steve Flamsteed, 2004 Sydney International Wine Competition Top 100 Judge
"A spicy, fleshy Shiraz. It was a lovely match with the roast pork. Soft, ripe and approachable. Seductively lush. The vanillin oak characters did stick out a bit especially on the finish, but give it a bit of time and you will have a lovely food wine." Peter Forrestal, 2004 Sydney International Wine Competition Top 100 Judge
"This shiraz is a mellow, generous type of Aussie red with no rough edges. Smelling of ripe blackberries and raspberries, it also has a hint of vanillan oak to it, but fruit character dominates. In the mouth it's smooth and tasty with friendly soft tannins in support." Ralph Kyte-Powell, The AgeEpicure ★★★★★
"Powerful blackberry and plum, with a spicy, savoury extension to the finish." James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion – 90 points
"A well-crafted wine with a meaty/nutty nose that is developing nicely. The palate is fresh and fragrant. The fruit is not obviously defined but there is a good savoury tannic backbone to give balance." Winestate Magazine ★★★★(★)
Awards
Top 100 of the 2004 Sydney International Wine Competition
About the winery
The Shaw family have been wine grape growers since 1975 when they first planted vines in the foothills of McLaren Vale. Then came the decision to produce wine under their own label and a site at Currency Creek (a little south of McLaren Vale) was chosen. In November 2000, John Loxton was appointed winemaker, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his 19 years at Maglieri Wines - where he had won numerous Australian and International trophies.
South Australia
South Australian is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. It is home to more than 900 wineries across 18 wine regions. The regions are Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Currency Creek, Eden Valley, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier, Padthaway, Riverland, Robe, Southern Fleurieu, Southern Flinders Ranges and Wrattonbully.
Many of the well-known names in the South Australian wine industry established their first vineyards in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The first vines in McLaren Vale were planted at Reynella in 1839 and Penfold's established Magill Estate on the outskirts of Adelaide in 1844.
South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the State to be able to produce a range of grape varieties - from cool climate Riesling in the Clare and Eden Vallies to the big, full bodied Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Two of Australia's best-known wines, Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, are produced here. There is much to discover in South Australia for the wine lover.