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.

'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'.

Vineyard
The Reiver has its origins in Greenock, the western-most town of the Barossa Valley. Being higher elevation than the Valley floor, the climate is slightly cooler providing wines of elegance and restraint . The soils are free draining grey loam over a limestone pan; the vines are 60 years old; the vigour is low and berry size small, all resulting in rich fruit with balanced concentration.

Vintage - 2002
After an unusually cool summer and a gentle autumn, the Barossa Valley experienced one of their mildest and best quality vintages during 2002. The moderate day-time temperatures, which only rose above 40 Degrees Celsius several times between November and February, and text-book January rains which maintained sub-soil moisture levels, provided perfect weather for growing and ripening wine grapes. This led to exceptional Shiraz with the desirable combination of ripeness and balanced acidity. Most winemakers predict that the 2002 Shiraz will have the intensity and fruit definition of the famous 1998 vintage, but with a more elegant structure from the finer tannins.

Winemaking
Grapes are harvested according to flavour profile with frequent trips to the vineyard before and during vintage to assess the flavours. Each parcel of fruit is fermented on skins for 10 days prior to pressing and then aged in 100% French oak for up to 18 months.

Tasting Note
Dense opaque purple. The nose shows hints of black fuits and cigar box, the palate also showing these characters but with ripe spicy tones and well rounded smooth tannin. The richness of the wine is extraordinary as is the purity of berry fruit overtones. 2002 Reiver will age for at least a decade.

Tasting Notes
Reiver | 2002 (224k)