Heritage Estate Reserve Shiraz 2013 Single Vineyard

Review of Wine:

Was expecting to enjoy this wine as had heard positive things about the winery but found the wine only average when drinking it. I didn't pair it correctly with food but still found the wine to be extremely smooth. I did find when drinking this Shiraz and it seemed like a high amount of preservatives seem to be in the wine as while drinking it was expecting to have a bit of a hang over the next day but didn't find this to be the case fortunately. I didn't know if at the time but the 2013 vintage was effected by hail so the 2012 or 2014 vintages might be much better.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: Drink now or until 2018

Varieties: Shiraz

Food: Tried this wine with tomato based pizzas

Colour: A deep rich red

Nose: Vibrant spicy berry and subtle white pepper nose typical of Granite Belt Shiraz.

Palate: The palate delivers sweet mulberry and raspberry fruit with texture and length and fine grained tannins.

Background:

Heritage Estate (owned by Bryce and Paddy Kassulke) has two estate vineyards in the Granite Belt, one at Cottonvale (north) at an altitude of 960m, where it grows white varieties, and the other at Ballandean, a slightly warmer site where red varieties and marsanne are planted. Heritage Estate has been a prolific award-winner in various Qld wine shows and it has invested in a new bottling line enabling it to use screwcaps. After a series of difficult vintages, with the Cottonvale vineyard, predominantly planted to white varieties, hit by hail in 2013, Heritage Estate has bounced back impressively, taking full advantage of the excellent 2014 vintage.

Awards:

No awards

Wine Rating: N/A

Alcohol: 14.8%

Price: $25.00 AUD

Where to Purchase:

Never been to the winery myself but can be purchased directly from the Heritage Estate website.

Rumbalara Shiraz 2013

Review of Wine:

Not the most amazing Shiraz I have ever had but for the price was a nice enjoyable Shiraz that I would be happy to enjoy again. I personally would not cellar this wine as think it is a wine to open and enjoy now.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: Drink now or over the next 6 years

Varieties: Shiraz

Food: We enjoyed it during a BBQ of beef spare ribs, chicken wings and marinated lamb cutlets.

Colour: N/A

Nose: N/A

Palate: N/A

Background:

The property now known as Rumbalara was first surveyed before 1908. Part of the land occupied by early owners was a mining lease containing a silver-bearing quartz intrusion discovered during the construction of the railway linking Brisbane and Sydney. The land was originally used as an orchard, with the first grapes planted in 28. Bob and Una Gray purchased the property in 74 and planted and grafted (onto existing rootstock) classic wine grape varieties including semillon and cabernet sauvignon. Rumbalara was purchased by Mike and Bobbi Crag in 2002.

Alcohol: 14.0%

Price: $20.00 AUD

Where to Purchase:

Having never been to the winery myself this was a gift from a friends recent trip to Stanthorpe when they come over for dinner. Can be purchased directly from the Rumbalara website.