The Château Single Vineyard ‘Bethanian’ Shiraz
From our estate vineyard on the sandy loam soils on Bethany creek. Settled by German immigrants in the 1840s, Bethany, or ‘Bethanian’ as the locals called it is the oldest settlement in the Barossa.
Tasting Notes
Lifted aromas of blackberry, blueberry and black pepper are supported by spicy, dark berry fruits on the palate. The extensive finish is framed by elegant, fine-grained tannins from maturation in a combination of new and seasoned American and French oak.
Winemaking
The grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, and spend seven days on their skins in open fermenters to gently extract colour, flavours and tannins. This was followed by careful basket pressing and fermentation in a combination of new and seasoned American and French oak barrels prior to eighteen months maturation in our cellar.
Reviews
93
Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Vintage 2023: So named as it hails from the sandy loam soils on Bethany Creek (Bethanian is the name used by some locals when they refer this, the oldest settlement in the Barossa – we are talking the 1840s). The wine spent eighteen months in a mix of French and American oak, both new and older. Just 1,000 cases.
A maroon hue, the nose reveals notes of florals, black fruits, coffee grinds, chocolate, bay leaves, spices, soy and sarsaparilla. Even a touch of blueberries emerges with time in the glass. There is juicy acidity, sleek tannins, good focus and very good length here. A wine of bright flavours, this is an attractive single vineyard Shiraz, which will provide delicious drinking for the next ten to twelve years.
92
Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
Vintage 2023: The source of the fruit is the ridge near the village of Bethany. It’s an area that produces wines that are silky smooth and eminently approachable even as youngsters. This one is right on the money. Loaded with a typical mix of blackberry and licorice with dark chocolate swirling through a plush palate. Really attractive bright fruit here, and it had the potential to cellar. Cellar: 10 years
91 Points
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
Vintage 2023: Single-vineyard shiraz sourced from the parish of Bethany. Black cherry and blackberry fruits with a blast of choc-mint, baking spice, tobacco, sandalwood, roasting meat, Christmas mince pies, cedar, dried herbs and earth. Plummy fruit joins in on the palate with powdery tannin, tight acidity and a taut medium-length finish. 2025-2035
91 Points
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review
Vintage 2023: Dark red, inky and opaque in the glass. Lifted aromas of stewed plum, mulberry, pudding spice, bramble, pepper and ferrous earth. Full-bodied, dark fruited and powerful in flavour. There's a lovely drive of brooding fruit, sweet oak and chewy tannins. Some pretty lively acidity kicks in and keeps everything bright and balanced. 2025-2040