Underhill Shiraz 2017

Located in the Yarra Valley, east of Melbourne in the state of Victoria, the Underhill vineyard stretches across the cool, well-drained slopes of the Yarra Yering estate, near Gruyere. Planted in predominantly gravelly and clay-loam soils, the vines benefit from a cool, continental climate tempered by breezes from the Great Dividing Range. This combination of cool temperatures, moderate altitude, and poor soils promotes slow ripening of the grapes and an elegant, spicy expression of Australian Syrah.

The Shiraz grapes are harvested by hand, plot by plot, then destemmed and gravity-fed into the vats. Fermentation takes place in open vats, with manual punch-downs to gently extract color and tannins. After racking, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels, including a proportion of new oak, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and further aging, before final blending and bottling at the estate without excessive filtration to preserve the purity of the fruit and the wine's structure.

This wine reveals notes of blackberry , black plum , and black cherry , complemented by hints of violet and peony , as well as spicy nuances of black pepper , licorice , and clove . Woody accents of cedar and sweet smoke mingle with a subtle mineral structure. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet elegant, supported by fresh acidity, fine, chalky tannins, and a long, flavorful, and slightly spicy finish.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multigenerational winemaking families, and a deep-rooted knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to this a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude, and a diverse portfolio of 65 wine regions across a wide range of climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine nation. Australia burst onto the export scene in the 1980s and has since been offering the world vibrant, fruity, and exceptionally good-value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the history of Australian wine was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache, and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diverse range of high-quality Australian wines and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is concentrated primarily along the southern coastline where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, each centered around major cities: Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne, and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the world's largest wine producers and was the fourth-largest exporter in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines throughout the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines, which are defined by their terroir.