There is so much more to Barossa Shiraz than the big jammy fruit bombs that seem to grab the high profile attention. Dont get me wrong, these wines definitely have their place in the book of shiraz its just that they are a chapter, rather than the whole story.

Six Bottle Case $600.00 | Dozen Price $1140.00

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Production:

19 small open ferments ranging in size from 470Kg to 770Kg from our House on the Hill, Horse Paddock, Bultawilta and Stone Well Hill Vineyards
Total production 2040 bottles
576 Re-Released June 2024

Colour:

Brooding deep rich red, bright rim

Nose:

Milk chocolate over pure Barossa plums with red liquorice and a hint of char,. youthful briar notes and hints of fragrant tea give a pretty and inviting nose

Palate:

Ripe plums and red summer berries with lifted sour Cherry undertones, charry yeasty richness overlaid with red strap liquorice, milk chocolate, some earthiness and leather. The fine elegant tannins eventually run into a long lingering savory finish.

Philosophy:

Its beer oclock (dont mind if I do) on the 16th of November 2018. Daylight savings kicked in last week, and as I write the 2014 Benjamins Promise Label, we are getting some blessed rain. Its been a bloody dry winter and while this drop is too late for the grain cockies, its timely indeed for the vineyards. It remains to be seen how the rest of our season will unfold, but Im backing a small intensely flavoured crop on its way. Ben at the time of writing has two weeks left of his HSC; year 12 for those thats know it by another name. He only has this last push to go before the half blue face FREEDOM moment of his schooling career. With a bit of luck, charging sword in hand through the High School faculty department isnt on the cards for muck up day. Ben has focused on Art, Design, English and Cooking this year. After a bit of a shaky commitment phase early in the year, hes knuckled down and Im quietly betting hell pull 4 of a kind and theyll all be picture cards when the results roll in. Ben leaves his parents standing at the gates when it comes to his artistic prowess and based on the meal I enjoyed a few weeks ago is no slouch in the kitchen either. English; well lets just say the flair for verbal imagery doesnt fall far from the tree. So, two short weeks and therell be one less packed lunch. End of an era for us but Ben, hes probably seeing it as the start of a new one and so he should!

The 2014 Benjamins Promise Shiraz was nurtured in a year of generous beginnings, with the winter and spring giving us the best possible start. It was what I consider a Proper Year as Easter was in late April and the Season was what youd ask for if you could. I always use the Easter full moon date as a rule of thumb as to where the tail end of vintage will be happening and 2014 ran true to form. We picked all our Shiraz over a two (ish) week period from the 26th of Feb to the 14th of March which were given the rummage of love in 19 different small batch parcels. As always, the fruit was taken from Sand, Loam and Clay across our Stone Well Hill Bultawilta and Stelzer Road Vineyards. Each small batch of Shiraz was hand plunged 3 times daily and spent between 25 to 32 days on skins. This extended skin contact is the secret to velvety tannins and the intense fruit drive that are the hallmark of the Benjamins Promise Shiraz. The unstoppable but gentle Hypac basket press extracted every last drop of black gold from the skins which was then filled to new and seasoned French Oak Hogsheads on full lees for 27 months ageing before being racked to tank to settle. After final blending, 2040 bottles were filled (unfiltered) of the 2014 Benjamin’s Promise Shiraz
In 2024, 576 bottles have been re-released of the the Cellar Release 2014 Benjamin’s Promise Shiraz. Each bottle ( as always ) has been hand printed wrapped and packaged with care by the team at david Franz before wending its way to you. Enjoy and Cheers!

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