Description
Colour
Garnet red with purple hues
Bouquet
A complex nose of dark cherry and blackberry aromas with a hint of forest floor and spice
Palate
Vibrant dark cherry and blackberry with a hint of ‘wombat rolled in all spice’ balanced with an even, textural palate with soft, supple tannins
Grub Match
Rump steak, mushroom sauce, chips and salad – say no more!
Cellaring
Drink up, but also a 5-8 year proposition
Vintage
The growing season pulled out of the station with winter rainfall around 10% higher than average. A dry spring combined with a warmer than average October and November meant the vine canopies grew quickly, and led to a good flowering and set.
January and February were warm and dry, with a series of heat events slowing down the pace of ripening. Similar to 2017, March signalled the start of an Indian summer that lasted through into April. These perfect ripening conditions allowed us to pick all
our blocks at the optimum point, and the resulting wines look the business. 2018 may rank with the best of the decade – 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016. All aboard!
Vineyard
Darren’s vineyard is to the north of Seppeltsfield in the west of the Barossa – 285m above sea level on clay over limestone. Matthew and Jono’s vineyard is to the north of Kalimna in the north of the Barossa – 312m above sea level on red clay with sand and ironstone
Milton’s vineyard is to the east of Eden Valley in the east of the Barossa – 460m above sea level on clay over ironstone and quartz
Vinification
The fruit is crushed/destemmed and fermented at temperatures ranging from 20-25°C for 8 days on skins. The ferment is managed by a variety of techniques, including ‘aerative pump overs’ and ‘drain and returns’ which assist in extracting colour, flavour and tannin from the grapes. At the end of fermentation, it is drained/pressed, and transferred to 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads to undergo MLF. Post MLF, sulphur dioxide is added, and the wines mature sur lie for 12 months. This wine was bottled in May 2019.
Reviews
2018 ‘MOTHER’S MILK’ SHIRAZ
June 2019, James Suckling, 96 points
The aromas and flavors of plums, smoked meat, raw meat, cloves, nutmeg and berries are sumptuous. Full body, round and polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Yet reserved and focused at the finish. Drink or hold.
2018 ‘MOTHER’S MILK’ SHIRAZ
The Real Review, Nick Butler, August 2019. Rating: 90
Deep garnet rather than purple colour. Savoury – almost umami leanings to the bouquet: spice, mushrooms and truffles. Time in the glass shows more cinnamon and plum. Medium-weight on the palate, just enough fruit, balanced.