The 2008 vintage in Eden Valley was preceded by an average rainfall and a mild and unusually frost-free spring with regular rainfall periods. Fine flowering weather meant good set despite the expectation that the previous drought year of 2007 would affect yields. The vines also showed surprisingly vigorous growth. A dry and hotter than average early summer caused smaller berry and bunch size. Although temperatures climbed to over 40C around New Year and in mid-February, the weather from mid-January through February was the coolest for 30 years, allowing amazing development of fruit colour, flavour and maturity. In early March, South Australia suffered an unprecedented record heat wave of 15 days over 35C. The unexpected searing heat seemed never-ending and resulted in stressed vines, significant leaf drop, escalating sugar levels in the fruit and significant shrivel. A cool change followed, which brought relief.

Lifted aromas of Satsuma plums, briary mulberry and exotic spices are entwined with Dutch licorice, black pepper, herbaceous rosemary and sage nuances, and hints of cedar, anise and roast meats.

The palate is rich and lush with focused sweet, ripe, dark berry fruits, cocoa and anise flavours; fleshy and textural with excellent depth, fine-grained tannins and a long, velvety finish.

Very deep crimson in colour with violet hues.

Matured in new French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to bottling.

Selective early morning handpicking, leaving shrivelled fruit on the vines, gave the best quality, resulting in some amazing intensely coloured and flavoured reds, in particular shiraz.

***Single Day Harvest***: 10 March 2008