2019 Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz
2019 Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz
($127.50 Wine Club price)
(6 Bottle Limit)
Our 2021 Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz from the great 2019 vintage comes from the old Becker Block in Koonunga, in the Barossa’s Northern reaches. The vines were thought to have been lanted in the 1870s, but as was the case back then, documentation is scarce. The block was however part of the Becker purchase in 1893. Now managed by Adrian Hoffmann, the block goes from strength to strength.
The wine has all the hallmarks of Northern Barossa Shiraz is a great season - powerful bright purple red hue, blackberry and earth, full bodied. The dense fruit is balanced by abundant natural tannins which keeps everything in check. We have cellared the wine for 5 years but further cellaring will see the wine continue to develop and improve in the bottle.
Technical Tasting Notes
2019 Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz
GROWING SEASON
The 2019 Barossa Valley vintage is shaping up to be a stand-out, with very high quality across the board but with significantly below average yields. The growing season started dry and stayed that way. In September, the Barossa Valley experienced below average maximum temperatures which delayed budburst and early vine growth. Frost was a constant threat with two bad frosts in our Ebenezer vineyards in late September and early November. Stone Well escaped the frost. If the frosts and dry conditions were not enough, the flowering period was windy and unsettled, and a hailstorm on 22 November topped it all off. By the end of March all our Barossa Valley grapes were harvested – one of the earliest on record.
Resulting yields were variable; in most vineyards below average, in many well below. The good news is that flavours and colours (in reds) and overall quality is exceptional. A truly great Barossa vintage in the making.
TASTING NOTE
Our Single Block Koonunga Ancestor Vine Shiraz from the truly exceptional 2019 vintage comes from our Ancestor Shiraz block in Koonunga in the Northern reaches of the Barossa Valley. Farmed by the Becker family since the 1800s, this block was thought to have been planted in the 1870s but no formal records exist.
The wine has all the hallmarks of a Northern Barossa Shiraz - bright purple red hue, powerful black and blue fruits, full bodied, the dense fruit balanced by abundant natural tannins. This wine is well integrated but has ample tannin to carry it forward for many years to come.
Region/Sub Region: 100% Barossa Valley / Koonunga
Grape Variety: 100% Shiraz
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 400 bottles
Cellaring: 10+ years
Serve: With a range of meat and vegetarian dishes
Winemaker : Andrew Seppelt
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2021 Ancestor Vine Shiraz →
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2020 Ancestor Vine Shiraz →
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2019 Ancestor Vine Shiraz →
Download Technical Tasting Notes 2018 Ancestor Vine Shiraz →
Reviews
2021 Koonunga Ancestor vine Shiraz
Not Submitted for Review
2020 Koonunga Ancestor vine Shiraz
Not Submitted for Review
2019 Koonunga Ancestor vine Shiraz
Not Submitted for Review
2018 Koonunga Ancestor vine Shiraz
Not Submitted for Review
