AUTUMNUS Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz 2018 Release
This vineyard is situated within the eastern section of Eden Valley which has distinctive cold nights and a slow, steady warming during the day. After a slow ripening period full maturity butts up against the close of the season meaning every single day during this period is critical in defining the fruit composition.
Vintage 2018 stands among the top echelon of vintages from the Barossa with Shiraz from Eden Valley being outstanding. These refined wines display concentrated cool climate varietal characters, deep colours and great balance thanks to perfect natural acidity retained at harvest. A classic Indian Summer through March and early April provided ideal conditions to fully maximise the ripening period before the vines started displaying their autumn coloured leaves, a signal their job had been completed.
Hand harvested, destemmed and crushed with 10% whole cluster inclusion, in a small 1.5 tonne open topped fermenter. The fruit was chilled for 6 days before being allowed to naturally warm up to start fermentation. Hand plunged daily and fermented at 24C ensured a slow gentle and controlled extraction. Post-pressing, the wine was transferred to a combination of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. Matured for 24 months in oak without racking, the wine was then naturally clarified and bottled without filtration. Matured in bottle for a further 3 years before release has enhanced complexity and integration.
Only 1000 bottles were produced with each bottle individually numbered.
99 Points The Wine Orbit (Sam Kim)
It’s totally seductive on the nose, showing blackberry, star anise, bouquet garni, cedar, smoked game and rich floral aromas. The concentrated palate is refined and lavish, displaying exceptional concentration, wonderfully enhanced by seamlessly flowing mouthfeel and beautifully melded tannins. It’s robust and solidly built with an exquisite presence, finishing immensely long and sophisticated.
97 Points James Suckling
An edgy and intense shiraz with sliced dried meat, white pepper, plum, wet earth and bark. Some black mushroom, too. It’s full-bodied with deep fruit that is toned and held in on the palate. Juicy finish. One for the cellar. Tiny production
96 Points Vinous (Angus Hughson)
The 2018 Shiraz Autumnus Single Vineyard Eden Valley is Sons of Eden’s piece de resistance. Only released in the greatest years, this is the third vintage. This wine has an impressive presence – the classic iron fist in a velvet glove. Blackberry, chocolate, ground spices, aged meat, touches of tar and licorice all wrapped up in a blanket of fine oak – impressive stuff. A voluptuous palate follows with layers of ripe, embryonic fruits, beautifully matched to a bed of well-judged tannins supporting a finish of considerable length. Another wine to showcase the outstanding 2018 vintage.
95 Points Halliday (Dave Brookes)
The flexing stature of the flagship Sons of Eden wine is quite something. It hails from a single vineyard in Keyneton at 435m elevation and sees 24 months maturation in new and seasoned French oak and a further 24 months in bottle before release. It’s a big unit. Packed to the rafters with opulent blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry and blood plums cut with deep dark spice, blackcurrant pastille, turned earth, sage, pressed flowers, licorice, cedar and fairly voluminous oak nuance. It’s no wallflower, and if you seek a sleek, plush shiraz this may be just the ticket – thick with tannin, fruit and a trailing wake of sarsaparilla and crème de cassis notes.
Offer for our Members
Autumnus single vineyard Shiraz 2018
$350 / single bottle wooden box*
*Freight is inclusive of price
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