Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz 2014

Sons of Eden is a partnership between Simon Cowham (one of Australia's most accomplished vignerons) and Corey Ryan (one of Australia's most accomplished winemakers). They make a formidable team and their exceptional skill and experience are expressed in the Sons of Eden Wines. Named in "Ten of the Best" by James Halliday in his 2010 Wine Companion.

"Bitter chocolate and juicy dark berries, silky glossy feel with fine grained tannin that provides traction on the finish, to tighten it up. Feels fresh, but not forced, and the oak is beautifully taken up. Effortless Shiraz of polish and high drinking appeal."  Gary Walsh

Simon nurtures the vines that are used in some of the Eden/Barossa valley iconic wines. Indeed, 98% of the crop is sought after by the likes of Henschke, Yalumba and Torbreck. Only 2% of the crop (mostly old vineyards) is selected for Corey to craft into exquisite reds of considerable flavour, complexity and length. It is hard to imagine a better pedigree behind any wine label.

"This wine is a blend of individual Shiraz parcels made from unique sites throughout the Barossa. The blend of cooler climate Eden Valley Shiraz (39%) and warmer climate Barossa Valley Shiraz (61%), combine beautifully to enhance the palate structure and aromatics.

"The estate-grown wines are of outstanding quality” - James Halliday

Deep in colour with a rich and lifted bouquet of wild berry fruits complimented with dried herb nuances. On the palate layers of ripe red fruits and wild berry characters marry seamlessly with subtle dried herb and spicy notes. Silky tannins persist the length of the palate."  Sons of Eden 

"Sons of Eden is one of my top picks among the hundreds of new small wineries coming out of Australia. It specializes in wines that manage to build grace and harmony into those ripe, opulent Aussie flavours. The Sons of Eden wines all strike me as exceptionally supple and smooth."  Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator  

Expert reviews

"61% Barossa Valley, 39% Eden Valley, cold soak and post-ferment maceration, matured for 18 months in new and used French and American oak. Purple-crimson; a beautifully wrought and detailed palate, so supple it literally glides through to the finish and aftertaste without even a momentary pause for thought. Will live for decades, but can also be consumed tonight. Drink by 2038."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 96 points

"A seasoning of aromatic dried herb seems to be a common theme in 2014 Barossa Shiraz. I quite like it. I like the way it tempers sweet fruit, though it may not be ideal for everyone. Juicy forest berries with a jasmine perfume, spice, dried herbs, choc-mint fondant. Medium to full bodied, bitter chocolate and juicy dark berries, silky glossy feel with fine grained tannin that provides traction on the finish, to tighten it up. Feels fresh, but not forced, and the oak is beautifully taken up. Effortless Shiraz of polish and high drinking appeal. Drink 2016-2024+."  Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - 93 points

About the winery

When winemaker Corey Ryan and multi-skilled viticulturist Simon Cowham established Sons of Eden in 2000, they already had years of experience in South Australia's Barossa and Eden Valleys.

Ryan has racked up more than 25 Barossa vintages and worked in New Zealand with Villa Maria Estates; he was awarded 2007 New Zealand Winestate Winemaker of the Year. Back home, he was a 2016 finalist in Gourmet Traveller Wine's Australian Winemaker of the Year. But it was his time as a winemaker at Henschke that lit his fire for the Eden Valley.

Cowham's early days included selling OddBins wines in its glory days, returning from England to work for the Winemakers' Federation of Australia. He switched to grape growing by qualifying as a viticulturist and joining Yalumba as manager of its Heggies and Pewsey Vale vineyards in the mid-'90s. In 2013, Barons of Barossa anointed him Barossa Winemaker of the Year. He, too, has 25-plus Barossa vintages under his belt.

More than 25 vineyard sites across the Barossa and Eden Valleys supply fruit to Sons of Eden: 10 are directly managed and operated by the label, the rest are supplied by handshake agreements with their loyal generational growers. The success of the arrangement is demonstrated by three Most Successful Exhibitor awards from the Barossa Wine Show, two Winewise Small Vigneron Awards and an unbroken annual stream of five-red-star ratings from 2012 to now.