2007 Reiver Shiraz
The name 'Reiver' is taken from the border raiders of the Anglo-Scot borders. Throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the border country was ravaged by lawless Reiver families in a vicious cycle of raid, reprisal and blood feud. Their allegiance was first to the family, the surname, and not the crown, whether English or Scottish.
Throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the border country was ravaged by lawless Reiver families in a vicious cycle of raid, reprisal and blood feud. Their allegiance was first to the family, the surname, and not the crown, whether English or Scottish.
'Rubro et albo vexillum volitat, pro sanguine, pietale, sanctitateque et familiae honore'
'The flag flies red and white - for bloodshed and righteousness and the honour of the family'.
CLOSURE • Stelvin
MATURATION • Aged in fine grained oak predominantly hogsheads (70% new being a blend of 80% French and 20% French coopered American oak, plus 30% being one and two year old French/American oak) for 16 months. A total of 16 coopers are used for the Mitolo oak regime.
CELLARING • Will evolve nicely for 8 to 10 years.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2007
Varietal
Shiraz
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Black/ purple with stunning concentration. Blueberries and mushrooms on the nose intermingled with hints of smoked wood. Lushly textured with excellent length.
Ratings
92 points - Wine Advocate
91 points - Wine Spectator
Awards
Gold Medal, Japanese Wine Challenge.
Silver Medal, Japanese Wine Challenge.
Vineyard Notes
The grapes come from a single vineyard in Greenock in the northern part of the Barossa Valley which is situated at 550 metres above sea level and grown in a continental climate. The average age of the vines is around 60 years old and they receive very little irrigation. The soils are free draining loam over limestone.
Production Notes
Vintage 2007 was dominated by very low rainfall- approximately half the average of the previous recorded growing seasons. The extreme growing conditions resulted in a harvest that saw crop loads 45-50% below the average due to lighter bunches, resulting from drought conditions.
Harvest was the earliest on record with some varieties being picked mid to late January due to accelerated ripening as a result of small, low weight bunches. All Barossa red varieties were down substantially in yield due to smaller berry size, however quality across the board is very good to exceptional.
Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board.
