Halliday review

Merindoc Vineyard Heathcote Shiraz 2007 Deep and concentrated, there is rich blackberry and fruitcake on the bouquet; the plate is dense and long, with multiple layers of licorice and blackberry fruit balanced by firm tannins. 95 points James Halliday

Heathcote Shiraz 2007 Lifted blueberry bouquet with elements of mint, oak and slightly dusty complexity; the palate is very firm, with an abundance of tannin and acid; a complex wine that needs time to fully integrate, and especially for the tannin to soften. 94 points James Halliday

Our Vineyard

The Shelmerdine family has a long history managing high quality vineyards in Victoria, from the Nagambie Lakes region to the Yarra Valley and Heathcote. Each of our estate vineyards is managed to produce sustainable, low yields for the highest quality possible.

VINTAGE 2007

The 2007 Merindoc Shiraz opens with complex wild-ferment aromas of truffl es, bramble and blackberries, with a dark chocolate wrap of fi ne French oak. The inky, dark wine shows an array of intense black fruits and plums on a focused palate that builds in the mouth. The finish is decidedly savory, textured and long, with a balance of acid and well-integrated tannins that give distinction to the wine.

THE VINEYARD

After hand-harvesting the smallest berries from the block, the 3.5 tonne parcel was delivered to winemaker Sergio Carlei and vinifi ed in a single wooden fermenter with indigenous yeasts over a period of more than 30 days. It was then basket pressed and transferred to French oak from several different coopers and matured for 14 months before being blended and bottled under screwcap without fining or filtration. 250 cases were produced.

THE WINEMAKING

The Merindoc Vineyard Shiraz fruit is from a small, amphitheatre shaped block of 7.4 acres nestled in the southern foothills of the Heathcote region. The single clone PT23 was planted on SO4 and Telecki 5C rootstock, on a VSP trellis at a density of 700 vines per acre in 1995. The soils are granitic; ironstone washed through with granite sand over yellow and black cracking clays.

Technical data

Previous Vintage Reviews

Shelmerdine Wine Dinner
North Sydney Cellars Twitter, August 19th 2009

'One of the beacon wines of the Heathcote region'
Campbell Mattinson The Wine Front Monthly, 2008

Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh The Big Red Wine Book, 2009/10.

'Deeply coloured; extremely potent and focused'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2008 Edition

'Beautifully Crafted'
Tyson Stelzer Wine Business Monthly, October 2007

'94 Points'
<br> Australian Wine Companion, 2010

'Natural, unhurried, Rolls Royce Winemaking'
<br> Gourmet Traveller Wine, October, 2007

'Brooding and mesmerising wine of enormous personality'
Gary Walsh Winorama, August 2007

'The 2005 release is the one'
Campbell Mattinson Why The French Hate Us

'Incredibly complex nose'
Tony Keys The Key Review November 2007

'Not just a wine - this is an experience'
Gary Walsh Winorama, 2008

Current Vintage 2006

Warm continental climate, low yielding vines, ancient Cambrian soils and fastidious viticulture produces intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with clear regional and varietal character. Displaying a rich, deep red-purple colour the wine has dark berry, briar and cassis aromas. The palate is structured, with firmly integrated tannins and generous line and length.

The Vineyard

The fruit for this wine is grown in our Willoughby Bridge Vineyard at Colbinabbin, at the northern end of the Heathcote wine region. Willoughby Bridge Vineyard is planted on the renowned Cambrian rich red dirt, one of the oldest soil types in Australia. Another warm and dry vintage gave us low yields of intensely complex fruit.

The Winemaking

After hand-picking, the separate fruit parcels were given a short pre-fermentation cold soak before being open-fermented at warm temperatures. The wine was hand-plunged twice daily during its six-day ferment to achieve the desired balance of colour and tannin. The wine was then matured for 11 months in fine-grained, medium toast new and second year French oak barrels. Blended and bottle under screwcap in April 2007, this wine has the structure to mature well for at least a decade.

Technical Data

Current Vintage Reviews

'93 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2009 Edition

'Well done!'
Jancis Robinson MW Purple Pages February 2009

'Another top drop'
Rick Allen Manly Daily March 2008

Previous Vintage Reviews

'Fine and elegant style'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

'Refinement lacking in some of its neighbours'
Ralph Kyte-Powell The Age, Epicure, March 2007

'Over delivers on quality for the price'
Gary Walsh Winorama, February 2007

Current Vintage 2006

The 2006 Shelmerdine Heathcote Shiraz is a vibrant red with purple tinges, an indication of the impressive concentration of aromas and fl avours to come. The nose is redolent with dark berries, red fruits, cherries and spice; all the best of Christmas. The palate is a perfect balance of fruit, savoury notes, fine long tannins and acid. It does not have excessive ripeness, extraction or oak.

The Vineyard

The fruit for this wine is grown from our two vineyards at opposite ends of the Heathcote region; Merindoc Vineyard at Tooborac in the south, and the Willoughby Bridge Vineyard at Colbinabbin in the north. Merindoc Vineyard, with gravelly, low fertility ironstone soils provides minerality, structure and a cooler climate. Willoughby Bridge Vineyard is planted on the renowned Cambrian rich red dirt, one of the oldest soil types in Australia and renowned for the production of intensely flavoured Shiraz. Another warm and dry vintage gave us low yields of concentrated flavours.

The Winemaking

After hand-picking, the separate fruit parcels were given a short pre-fermentation cold soak before being crushed and open fermented at warm temperatures. The wine was hand-plunged twice daily during its six-day ferment to extract the desired levels of colour and flavour. After ferment the individual wines were pressed off into new and second year French oak barrels, for 13 months before blending and bottling under screwcap in April 2007.

Technical data

Current Vintage Reviews

Shelmerdine Wine Dinner
North Sydney Cellars Twitter, August 19th 2009

Shelmerdine’s reds are getting better. It’s now a name to look out for
Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh The Big Red Wine Book, 2009/10.

'No vinous crime'
Jane Faulkner The Age, A2, May 2009

'Smart, savoury stuff'
Tim White Australian Financial Review, January, 2009

'94 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2009 Edition

'All in all a very good and tasty wine'
Gary Walsh The Wine Front, December 2008

'More elegant style for the region'
Tyson Stelzer Wine Business Monthly, February 2009

'Top Drop'
Jeff Collerson Daily Telegraph, January 2009

'Pretty northern Rhone like...'
Jancis Robinson MW Purple Pages, March 2009

Heathcote - What is the fuss?
Andrew Wood Magazine of AMA - Leisure, May 2009

Previous Vintage Reviews

'Excellent length and balance'
Wine Business Monthly April 2008

'Hard to describe. Easy to drink'
Gary Walsh Winorama, March 2007

'Very good balance'
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine

Current Vintage 2006

The 2006 Heathcote Merlot displays a lovely deep purple with crimson hues in the glass. The aromas are typical for this variety; ripe plum, blueberries, crushed herbs and tobacco with a hint of spice and French oak. The palate is supple and fruit driven; by more plums, dark berries and a hint of spice, the tannins are fine. Best enjoyed on release or after medium term cellaring.

The Vineyard

The fruit for this wine is grown in our Willoughby Bridge Vineyard at Colbinabbin, at the northern end of the Heathcote wine region. Grown on the rich red Cambrian soils, the best Merlot from the vineyard is selected for the production of this wine. Vintage 2006 in Heathcote yielded perfectly ripened grapes from balanced low-cropped vines, ensuring remarkable fruit intensity and depth of flavour.

The Winemaking

After harvesting in mid April, fermentation took place both in barrel and in static vessels at warm temperatures. The wine was matured for 10 months in a range of new and seasoned French oak barrels, before bottling under screwcap in April 2007.

Technical data

Current Vintage Reviews

'89 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition

Previous Vintage Reviews

'91 points'
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

'Attractive flavours'
Gary Walsh Winorama, April 2007

'Heathcote has more to offer than Shiraz'
Ken Gargett Courier Mail, October 2007