Brockenchack

2011 Mackenzie William 1896 Riesling

Picked slightly earlier in the harvest, the 2011 vintage features lime, citrus and floral aromas.  The palate shows delicate minerality with a hint of sweetness and finishes with a tight, crisp acidity.  Awarded a gold medal by the Barossa Wine Show judges in Sept 2011.

2011 Tru-Su Rose

Like all the Brockenchack wines, there’s a story behind the name here. Trudi and Susan are the daughters of Trevor and Marylin Harch, proprietors of Brockenchack wines. Trudi and Susan love good Shiraz-based Rose and call this one “magic juice for an afternoon bbq.” Winemaker Shawn Kalleske has done everything right here, turning some wonderfully bright, refreshing, red/green apple and strawberry-infused fruit into a perfectly Australian expression of this style.  And yes, this has a terrifically dry finish. Mouth-watering, in fact.

2010 Zip Line Shiraz

Named after a cable-swing used by generations of the Harch family at the historic Brockenchack vineyards, the Zip Line is a full-flavoured, yet typically fragrant and concentrated Eden Valley Shiraz. Winemaker Shawn Kalleske has used seasoned French and American oak barrels to keep this beautiful fruit at the front. White pepper, blackcurrants, firm liquorice and floral musk are all a part of this classic and very affordable bottling of quality Eden fruit. It’s youthful and will cellar with confidence, so decanting is recommended if you want to see it at its best.

2009 Jack Harrison Shiraz

93 points.  Strong, deep red-purple; a very powerful, concentrated full-bodied shiraz, overflowing with black fruits, oak and abundant tannins. Has the balance to age with distinction. Like the William Frederick Shiraz, the alcohol is not an issue.  Drink by 2034.

2009 William Frederick Shiraz

94 points.  Identical colour to the Jack Harrison Shiraz; the overall style is also similar, but this wine does have even greater intensity. Both wines are to be approached with caution, and will repay a decade or two in the cellar.  Drink by 2039.

2010 Zip Line Shiraz

Here’s a single-vineyard Shiraz from a gorgeous site in the Eden Valley, made in the voluptuous, forward style of Shawn Kalleske.  High tones of blackberry jubes, punchy red fruit and liquorice overlay a dense, herbal profile of mocha, chocolate and vanilla. Chewy and youthful today, to be sure, but this is positively throbbing with layers of power just waiting for 2015 and beyond. [The floral perfumes of Eden Valley are so tightly wound up here as to hiss if you put your ear to the glass.]  Smart buying for Barossa freaks primed to take advantage of a stunning vintage.

2008 Jack Harrison Shiraz

94 points.  A slinky, svelte, ultra-modern style shiraz with some stemmy (wholebunch?) hints among the spicy and herbal Eden Valley regional characters. Deep, fleshy and full-bodied, but amazingly silky textured and alluring. An excellent but very rare wine.  Ranked number 1 of 7 2008 Shiraz tasted from this region.