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2022 Striato

Estate grown and made
Certified organic and biodynamic fruit

[VARIETIES] 100% Shiraz
[ALC] 13.5%
[PRODUCTION] 111 dozen
[CELLARING] 10+ years

Tasting Notes

Striato (formerly known as ‘Spice Garden’) refers to striations, or long narrow abrasions on rock, created by the movement of a glacier. It reminds us of the 600+ million year old geological history of this land. A savoury, medium weight Shiraz with layers of flavour and amazing depth. Soaring aromas of red and blue fruit overlaid with Asian spice and graphite. The palate is impressively balanced between elegant fruit texture and the cool tannin of Shiraz grown on limestone.

Vineyard Notes

2022 saw a cool, but compressed vintage that stands alone in style next to recent years. After good early winter rains, it turned cold and dry, leading to delayed budburst and slow growth in the vineyard. After November frost and hail it warmed up through December and Jan/Feb saw mild, slow-ripening conditions. A burst of rain at the end of Feb had us on edge before a warm spell ripened everything at once. Yields were right in the zone and quality was excellent, with complex aromas and a distinctive tannin quality to the year. P1 and P10 were picked on the 15th and 19th of March. Both components were fermented in concrete as 80% (P10) and 50% (P1) whole bunches before pressing back to concrete for maturation. Components remained separate until blending in October and bottling in December 2022.

You can put the limestone and the shist together (the rocks and the rocks together work); you can put the schist and the clay together; but you cannot put the limestone and the clay together. The clay will dominate," says winemaker Amelia Nolan. "As far as we and Pedro (Parra) see it, the limestone has the potential to be the best." The 2022 Striato Shiraz is composed of 90% Polygon 10 and 10% of Polygon 1 (schist and quartzite). Interestingly, the 2022 Birdsong Syrah is Polygon 14 (clay) and Polygon 11 (schist). "We really are using geology to create a classification system of quality." The austerity and finesse of Polygon 10 is evident, but the mouthfilling mid-palate of Polygon 1 fleshes out the experience and completes the picture. 14% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

96 Points, Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep ruby and purple tones. Mulberry, black olive and blood orange peel aromatics. Dark fruit on entry, tightly coiled as it sits on the palate. Savoury ironstone and meaty hints add to the complexity and fine gravelly tannins add to the sense of tension. This wine is not your traditional rich Barossa shiraz, it carries loads of savoury and grip so will be best suited to food and will reward cellaring.

93 Points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review

2022 Striato Shiraz Tasting Note

2021 Spice Garden Tasting Note