Richard Tarlton was favourite among jesters to Queen Elizabeth I. Tarlton was the first to achieve national celebrity as a comedian and enjoyed a successful career in theatre as a leading member of the Queen’s Players. As a writer, he was the author of popular ballads and plays. ‘Jester’ celebrates the era where boredom was alleviated through humour and the banal through intellect.

Vineyard
The grapes come from the Willunga district of McLaren Vale, where the heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay, combined with the maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins. Yield is around 4 tons an acre.

Vintage - 2004
A longer than usual vintage attributed to cool conditions during ripening. Shiraz reached full flavour ripeness, excellent colour, and tannin with wines exhibiting great varietal flavours and aromas.

Winemaking
Each parcel of fruit for Jester is fermented on skins for 5 to 6 days at a cool temperature to enhance the pure berry fruit. The wine is then pressed and undergoes partial barrel fermentation. A natural malolactic fermentation is completed before the wine is racked.

Aged in 2-4 year old French oak for 9 months

Tasting Notes
Deep Purple Colour. The nose shows concentrated blackberry, plum and chocolate aromas with a subtle touch of French oak. The palate displays masses of rich black fruits and dark chocolate that combine with the sweet velvety tannins. Ripe and full bodied this well rounded wine has good structure, intensity and concentration of fruit which lead into a long generous finish.

Cellaring:
Will age reliably under cork for 5-7 years

Tasting Notes
Jester Shiraz | 2004 (192k)