$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 July 2024
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.
Thursday Afternoon, late November and it’s time to put this year’s musings together for the 2014 Alexander’s Reward Label. Looking back, the gold nugget moments with the hyperactive ‘Young Alex’, was when he ran out of poop and we’d snuggle on the couch. One of the nicest traits that’s carried forward is that at the ripe old age of 13, he still loves a snuggle on the couch when he’s tuckered out. While my top choice to watch is Oggy and the Cockroaches, we can still drop everything for a vintage episode of Sanjay and Craig. Alex is rapidly running out of the school year (to his absolute delight) and summer is officially two more sleeps away. Alex has had a bloody solid year, mastering Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption 2 – Offline – and managing to finagle his way into Black Ops 4 as well. School, well he’s apparently managed to squeeze it in around his online gaming and social life. Actually - I’m being deliberately unfair here for the mere sake of comedy because Alex actually does care deeply, puts a lot in and has kicked its arse! He has lofty ambitions and is also smart enough to know you get out what you put in. Next year brings Alex’s first official year of High School as he launches into year eight, and he’s pretty chuffed that they chose this year to throw the year sevens into the big pond at the same time. He’s not going to be the youngest at all. But for now, a few short weeks separate his from the summer break and we all know that’s more than enough to look forward to.
The components for the 2014 Alexander’s Reward Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz both reached near perfection on the vine with the winter and spring laying powerful foundations. As my winemaking philosophies have evolved and perhaps, ‘matured’ chasing lithe sexy structure is my holy grail and the 2014 fruit gave this in spades. We picked all our Shiraz over a two (ish) week period from the 26th of Feb to the 14th of March and our Cabernet Sauvignon over seven days from 28th of March to the 4th of April. There is a lifted line of fruit purity that sings through the 2014 Alexander’s Reward that celebrates each varietal contribution unselfishly. The 2014 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 27 months maturation before being racked to tank to settle. After final blending, 1200 bottles were filled (unfiltered) of the 2014 Alexander’s Reward Cabernet Shiraz In 2024, 192 bottles have been re-released of the the Cellar Release 2014 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!
