Not sure that Granite Belt Shiraz gets any better than this. I first tasted this with Ray and Jenny on Monday 24th June and immediately knew I had to purchase some of these to cellar. This is an impressive cool climate shiraz. According to the bottle the grapes come from 55 year old vines and Jenny Costanzo told us those same vines are now 57 years old.
The reflective colour hues in the glass are quite fascinating. Purple, crimson and pink glow radiantly and they fuse into an emulsive brightness in the deeper areas of the glass. The bouquet is passionately persuasive with powerful drifts of blackberry, star anise, liquorice, cedary oak and other spices.
The palate has beautiful balance, acid, fruit, oak all part of a well integrated team. This impressive Shiraz has a lovely savouriness, the blackberry is full and mouth coating and it’s complexed with star anise and liquorice, a little mulberry enters into the flavour spectrum, peppery spice adds a slight tingle and the tannins are very fine and dusty, there is local granitic minerality as the palatal journey is stretched to enjoyable length.
The back label says the wine will cellar for up to 10 years but you can reliably ignore that and tuck this beauty away for 20+ years. It’s just been released, I bought 4 in a doz wine pack but I’m thinking that’s hardly enough. Ballandean Old Vine Shiraz – just lovely!
Tasted: Sunday 7th July, 2022 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13.4%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $45
Suggested Drinking Window: now to 2032+
Winemaker: Ray Costanzo
Fruit Source: Estate
Visit Website
