The Pioneer
Shiraz 2014
This pinnacle release Shiraz is crafted from the very finest fruit selection and is entirely estate grown and bottled on the Taylor family estate in the Clare Valley, South Australia.
This pinnacle release Shiraz is crafted from the very finest fruit selection and is entirely estate grown and bottled on the Taylor family estate in the Clare Valley, South Australia.
Previous Vintages | 2012, 2013 |
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Region | Clare Valley |
Colour | At release, the wine is a deep crimson red with vibrant rose, purple hue. |
Nose | Fresh aniseed, hints of polished leather, dark chocolate, plum and spice with subtle smoky oak. Tightly knitted aromas unwind with aeration. |
Palate | This a seductive wine with luxurious layers of berry fruit, spicy fruitcake, licorice & sweet leather. The palate is full and generous but with precision to the structure. Velvety tannins mingle harmoniously with the fruit characters. The wine concludes on the palate with a lingering finish. |
Vintage Conditions | The growing season leading up to vintage 2014 saw average autumn & winter rainfalls and average temperatures. Whilst rainfall for spring was below average, vine vigour was good due to the levels of subsurface moisture. In early December there was a cool change & 16mm of rain fell. The rest of Dec and first half of Jan were dry & warm with no heatwaves due to regular cool changes. From mid-Jan to mid-Feb, hot conditions prevailed and harvest commenced early. A big downpour of rain mid-Feb bought the hot conditions to an end, changing to mild and cool. These conditions retained acid levels and slowed sugar development, crucially allowing time for the flavours to develop. The mild conditions continued through March, allowing ideal tannin & flavour development in the resultant wines. |
Oak Maturation | Post MLF, the wine was matured in a selection of AP John and Vicard fine-grained American oak barrels 40 % in new oak and the balance in a selection of one, two & three year old barrels. After 12 months a painstaking barrel selection assessment was undertaken to identify those parcels deemed as exceptional and these were returned to barrel for a further 10 months maturation prior to bottling. |
Cellaring Notes | Immediately approachable but will cellar well in ideal conditions for up to 20 years from vintage date. |