At the mercy of the Wind Gods
The Barossa has great site diversity, a function of climatic and soil variability, however, the winds have a critical say, for better or for worse, in both yield and quality at harvest time.
Easterly gully winds and late afternoon westerly sea-breezes provide temperature relief critical in creating cooling conditions for harmonious ripening of flavour, sugar and tannins.
Following periods of rain and heavy morning dew the winds have the welcoming benefit of drying out the vine canopy and bunch zone thus reducing disease pressure.
The scourge of strong winds around flowering, in Spring, wreak havoc on fruit set and ultimately final yield at harvest.
Many an early and calm Spring morning, with the temperature rapidly diminishing, have we had a little prayer to the wind gods to bring warming air movement to save the tiny shoots and bunches from freezing frosts and subsequent crop loss.
The following 3 wines pay homage to the wind gods and represent exemplary examples of single varietal wines made from varieties that the Barossa produces to a world standard.
NOTUS Barossa Valley Grenache 2022
Classic from an outstanding vintage
NOTUS, the Greek God of the Southerly wind, is made from old vine Grenache. After basking in the warm summer climate of the Barossa Valley the vines welcome the arrival of the cooling Southerly wind which marks the transition from summer to autumn and so coincides with the last stage in the ripening process of Grenache.
‘Best Grenache’ – Winewise Championship 2024 – selected from a line-up of Gold medal winning wines from eligible wine shows.
“Deep purple-red colour, bright and youthful; the aroma is superbly intense and ripe, spicy and dark-cherry to cherry brandy aromas, a lick of oak adds an extra dimension, while the palate is intense and bold, long and ample, with excellent depth of flavour and abundant fine, supple tannins. Brandied cherry traces. Very impressive.”
– Huon Hooke, The Real Review 94pts
True to its style, three vineyards were selected ranging in age from 60 through to 95 years of age. The oldest vineyard is located within the southern foothills of the Barossa Valley, between Lyndoch and Rowland Flat, with the balance from stand out vineyards on the gentle slopes above Tanunda and Nuriootpa.
The old grenache vines have grown in harmony with their surrounds for many generations with very little input required apart from their annual pruning, designed to support a small yield highly concentrated in flavours.
The 2022 vintage was ideal for grenache with a warm ripening period providing perfect conditions for the development of complex and vibrant wild berry characters together with supple ripe tannins.
EURUS Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Pick of our best cabernet sauvignon barrels
This classic wine is our offering to EURUS, Greek God of the East Wind, and is only made in exemplary vintages when Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon displays outstanding quality. Eden Valley is typically cooled in the mornings and evenings by Easterly gully winds which are ideal for slowing the ripening and refining varietal flavours.
“It’s wonderfully opulent while retaining varietal purity, showing cassis, brown spice and tobacco characters with a lovely oak infusion. The palate delivers excellent concentration and refined texture, superbly structured by fine, grainy tannins. Harmonious and complex with a prolonged, satisfying finish.”
– Sam Kim, Wine Orbit 96pts
This wine is from the vintage’s best cabernet sauvignon parcels and in 2022 it was a blend of the Eden Valley Cranes Range and the Long Gully Vineyards.
The fruit was handpicked and 100% de-stemmed into small open top fermenters, for approximately 20 days. Naturally fermented and hand plunged daily then pressed to a mix of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads for maturation. Matured in barrel for 15 months with no racking, before being clarified and bottled without filtration.
ZEPHYRUS Barossa Shiraz 2021
Classic blend of Eden Valley and Barossa Valley
This time-honoured blend is our offering to ZEPHYRUS, Greek God of the West Wind, who is often depicted as a horse due to the speed attributed to this majestic animal. The vineyards of the Greater Barossa are regularly buffeted by cooling westerly winds creating an ideal temperature range in which to slowly ripen.
- Gold 95 Points Decanter World Wine Awards 2023
- 97 Points Wine Orbit (Sam Kim)
- 95 Points The Wine Advocate (Erin Larkin)
- 95 pts James Suckling (Ned Goodwin)
“The 2021 Zephyrus Shiraz is a brilliant wine. Luscious tannins frame a bounty of black and purple fruit in the mouth, peppering it with coal dust/graphite/black tea and black olive tapenade. It’s a really good, structural, balanced, spicy, exciting Shiraz. It is polished but earthy, too, really well handled.”
– Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
Sourced from fruit grown throughout the Barossa region this wine is a blend of 10 unique vineyard sites. A combination of cooler climate Eden Valley Shiraz (46%) and warmer climate Barossa Valley Shiraz (54%) work in unison to create a luscious, complex and well-balanced wine.
Offer for our Members
Sons of Eden Wind Gods pack
$265 / 6 pack*
Includes;
2 x NOTUS Barossa Valley Grenache 2022
2 x EURUS Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
2 x ZEPHYRUS Barossa Shiraz 2021
*Freight is inclusive of price
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