Description
1998 Wendouree shiraz, from the very great 1998 vintage, this is a top class wine. Rated 96Pts by Jeremy Oliver. Wendouree Cellars is located in South Australia’s Clare Valley. The Wendouree Shiraz is made from some of the oldest shiraz vines in Australia, planted at Wendouree in 1893 by Alfred Percy Birks, these vines are derived from the original James Bushby Collection via the Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Wendouree Cellars is listed as an indicative place on the register of the National Estate. Roly Birks, a veteran of some 60 vintages retired in 1983. Lita and Tony Bourke, veteran winemakers of some 45 vintages purchased Wendouree Cellars in 1974. Wendouree’s integrity and heritage are both preserved, Wendouree Cellars in very much a 19th century working winery. Wendouree Wines are recognisable by their fruit power, weight and concentration; the tannin structures are very muscular and tightly knit. James Halliday has described Wendouree wines as “The iron fist in a velvet glove”. These old shiraz vines produce small berries with thick skins and high seed content. The fruit is vinified in stainless steel lined open fermenters. Wendouree Wines are matured in about 20% new oak for around 12 months, Wendouree shiraz has a core of blackberry/black olive aromas.
There isn’t a lot of old Wendouree wines about. Unit 1974 Wendouree wines were bottled and marketed by merchants and most of these wines were a blend rather than single varietal.
Wendouree Wines are highly sought by Wine Collectors and the best vintages will cellar for many decades.
