$125.00
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One of the truly great partnerships in the Barossa is the blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Whatever the proportions and regardless of whether Shiraz or Cabernet is dominant the synergy is unmistakable.
Sourced from individual patches of our Stonewell Hill and Stelzer Road Vineyards .
Total production 1200 bottles
192 Re-Released September 2023
Deep dense red with hints of purple lingering around the meniscus.
Spearmint perfume layered over cassis and red currant and summer berries. Lifted vanilla oak blends back and is filled out with the complexity of the spicy French giving an beautifully balanced nose.
The initial richness of the fully raspberry characters are poised against the spearmint menthol over finely balanced against firm oak and fruit Tannins. Good acid against the fruit sweetness, cleanses the mouth for a beautifully balanced palate The middle palate is full of the of the big berry hit of Cabernet supported by the leathery richness of Shiraz. The long palate finishes with the deep bass complexity brought out by extended lees contact.
It’s become a bit of a tradition the last few years; sitting down and penning the labels for the Alexander’s Reward while waiting for fruit to lob in the early days of Vintage. This little moment of quiet before the storm hits in Vintage 2018 is perfect for introspection and contemplation. Our youngest child Alex has just started year seven which is still the final year of primary school for some reason here in South Australia. Nicki and I are so proud of Alex. After approximately six and a half years of HATING going to school, towards the end of last year something just clicked! Alex has inexplicably gotten it... the whole ‘school - learning - striving for excellence’ thing. My GOD... who is this diligent student, and what has he done with Alex??? I jest of course, Nicki and I are just tickled pink. Alex is one of the most intelligent people I know, and putting two and two together, I figure that he’s worked out that A) he is going to have to go to school anyway. B) School is actually ‘heaps less’ boring if you engage and actively learn and C) you feel pretty bloody proud nailing out Distinction grade work consistently… the rest has just fallen in line. Hey, look he’s still the same contrary firebrand through and through with a wicked sense of humour and unshakable sense of right and wrong - I think those traits are set in stone - it’s just that now he’s thinking things through. The old strategic thinking has landed in his brain and now there’s a consideration of cause and effect that even his older siblings don’t seem to understand. Onya my lad - Love and admiration knows no boundaries as far as I and your mother are concerned.
2013 was a Cracking year in the Barossa. Both Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz ripened to perfection and in line with my evolving philosophy of what I want to see in glass. We picked on flavour, rather than Baume to capture ascendant peak ripeness and were ‘rewarded’ with Lithe sexy ferments packed full of flavour. The 2013 vintage offered a deeper more savoury profile across both Cabernet and Shiraz than the previous year, which combined with extended full lees maturation have given incredible depth to this wine. The 2013 Alexander’s Reward Cabernet Shiraz was created from small batch parcels drawn from Sand, Loam and Clay from both our Stone Well Hill and Stelzer Road Vineyards. Each batch was hand plunged three times a day during ferment before being basket pressed after a total of 25-35 days on skins. The wine was filled with full lees to a mix of old and new American and French Oak for 30 months maturation. After final blending, 1200 bottles were filled unfiltered of the 2013. In 2023, 192 bottles have been re-released of the the Cellar Release 2013 Alexander’s Reward Cabernet Shiraz as a 10 year old wine, Aged to perfection! Team david Franz have as always finished the bottle with the hand printed love we would never let it leave home without.
Enjoy and Cheers!
