Brini Sebastian Single Vineyard Shiraz 2018

The 17 hectare Brini Estate Vineyard is located in the picturesque hills north of Blewitt Springs, an unofficial sub-region of McLaren Vale. The grapes for the 2018 Sebastian Single Vineyard Shiraz were sourced from 75yo vines that were planted in 1947. The wine was matured in a combination of French and American oak for 18 months. 

"A perennial favourite of many of our customers who like full bodied, rich and velvety shiraz. The 2018 Sebastian again ticks all the boxes, delivering generous blackberry and plum fruit flavours, liquorice and vanillin oak on an opulent palate that still maintains a degree of elegance. A long finish seals the deal."  Nick Munday

Expert reviews

"A perennial favourite of many of our customers who like full bodied, rich and velvety shiraz. The 2018 Sebastian again ticks all the boxes, delivering generous blackberry and plum fruit flavours, liquorice and vanillin oak on an opulent palate that still maintains a degree of elegance. A long finish seals the deal."  Nick Munday, Canterbury Wines - 95 points

"Hand picked from 75yo vines. Open-fermented across a 10 day maceration and raised in French (25% new) and American oak for 18 months. Regional in a traditional paradigm defined by power, intensity and ripe fruit flavours suggestive of Christmas cake, blueberry, violet, orange rind and kirsch. Baking spice and licorice, too. The tannins, mostly oak, curtail any excess. Drink by 203."  Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion - 90 points 

About the winery

Sebastiano Brini arrived in McLaren Vale from Italy in 1950 and three years later purchased a farm in the picturesque hills north of Blewitt Springs - a sub region of McLaren Vale which is world-renowned for its ability to produce outstanding Shiraz and Grenache. Two-thirds of the property was used to run dairy cows and the other third had established grapevines planted to Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro by returned servicemen in the late 1940s as part of a soldier settlement scheme. With the help of his family, all of the property was progressively planted to grapevines – a total of 17ha of Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro, Merlot, and Chenin Blanc. Planting occurred in the mid to late 1940s, the 1960s and the late 1990s. Over the years the vineyard supplied grapes to some of Australia's finest red wine producers including Penfolds, Rosemount, Dárenberg and Maglieri.

In 1988 Sebastiano died in a tractor accident and sons Marcello and John continued to manage the vineyard. In 2000 the sons established Brini Estate Wines to vinify a portion of the grape production and sell small batches of premium quality wines under the Brini Estate label. ​Now the vineyard is nurtured by Marcello and his two sons Sebastian and Christian.

The soil type is predominantly deep sand to sandy loam over clay with gravel ironstone outcrops, a rare soil structure not readily found in Australian vineyards. The undulating slopes provide good drainage, allowing a deep and extensive root system and subsequently robust vines that can tolerate long periods of hot dry weather. In contrast to the relatively fertile soils of the McLaren Vale valley floor, the soil in the hills tends to be leaner.  This results in smaller yields and the vine's struggle to obtain nutrients is reflected in the impeccable fruit quality and flavour.

​The vineyard is planted at an average of 200 metres above sea level and about 130 metres above the McLaren Vale valley floor. The higher the elevation, the cooler the air, and that combined with the cooling evening sea breezes prolongs the ripening period, resulting in wines that attain that elusive combination of power, elegance and concentration. ​Blewitt Springs has a Mediterranean climate and a typical rainfall in the range 560-720 mm per year. The majority of rain falls in winter and summer is hot and dry allowing for ideal ripening conditions. All vines planted before 1997 are dry grown, i.e. no irrigation. The remainder of the vineyard is marginally irrigated from the 4 dams on the property.