Willow Bridge Estate Gravel Pit Shiraz 2023

Tasting Notes

🔹 Appearance – Deep, dark ruby with great clarity and depth.

🔹 Aroma – Black pepper, blueberry, and vanilla greet the nose, with ripe blackberry, star anise, and a touch of toasty oak underneath.

🔹 Palate – A rich and full-bodied experience with black plum, blackberry, and dark fruit at the forefront, complemented by dark olive, fine tannins, and warming spice.

🔹 Finish – The wine finishes long and smooth with a harmonious balance of oak and tannin structure.

Winemaking

🔹 Unique Terroir – Grapes from the Gravel Pit vineyard, influenced by the cool, maritime climate of the Ferguson Valley, provide the perfect environment for growing premium Shiraz.

🔹 Handcrafted – Carefully crafted to preserve the complexity and fruit expression, with minimal intervention during winemaking to highlight the natural qualities of the Shiraz.

🔹 Vegan Friendly – No animal products used during production, making it suitable for those following a vegan lifestyle.

Serving Temperature

🔹 Ideal – 18°C

🔹 Why – A slightly cooler temperature helps highlight the wine’s fruit-forward profile, while maintaining the balance of spice and oak.

🔹 How – If being stored at room temperature, place the wine in the fridge for about 45-60 minutes before drinking.

🔹 Result – At this temperature, the wine’s full body and rich texture will shine, offering a refined and enjoyable drinking experience.

Perfect Pairings

🔹 Slow-cooked Lamb Shanks – The rich, meaty flavours of lamb shanks will pair beautifully with the deep fruit and spice of the Shiraz.

🔹 Grilled Ribeye Steak – A classic Shiraz pairing, where the wine’s tannins and spice complement the steak’s rich, smoky flavour.

🔹 Mushroom Risotto – Earthy, rich, and creamy, mushroom risotto is a perfect match to highlight the wine’s depth and dark fruit profile.

🔹 Smoked Meats & Aged Cheeses – Ideal with smoky barbecued meats or aged hard cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Gruyère, to bring out the wine’s complex flavours.

FAQ: Wine Terms

🔹 Tannins – Natural compounds in grapes and oak barrels that add structure to wine, often providing a dry, puckering sensation. In this Shiraz, the tannins are fine and smooth, giving it a silky texture.

🔹 Oak Influence – Oak aging can add complexity to a wine, contributing flavours like vanilla, spice, and toast. This Shiraz shows subtle toasty oak, enhancing the fruit character without overpowering it.

🔹 Vegan Friendly – This wine is produced without animal-derived fining agents, making it suitable for vegan diets.