Please make up orders in lots of 2, 6 or 12 bottles (mixed six packs and mixed dozens are welcome).
Blend
Shiraz (96%) Viognier (4%), CANBERRA DISTRICT
Season
The 2011 season presented challenging conditions due to the above-average rainfall in the Canberra District. Due to the porous and well-drained nature of the soils on which this wine was grown, vine health remained extremely good throughout the season. These remarkable sites produced shiraz grapes with the spice, flesh and backbone synonomous with the Marked Tree Red. Loaded with the unique charisma of these vineyards, the 2011 remains fresh-as-a-daisy and compelling as ever in bottle.
Viticulture
The Marked Tree Red comprises hand-worked parcels of shiraz from vineyards in and around Murrumbateman. The mix of granite and shale soils produce fruit which is both perfumed and elegantly structured as well as savoury, textured and rich.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested at between 12.5 and 13.5 Baume. Fermentation with whole bunches and natural yeast took place in open fermenters which were worked by pigeage to extract flavour and tannin. Parcels went through a natural malolactic fermentation and ageing in a mix of new and seasoned Allier and Troncais oak. Blending and bottling took place in February 2012.
Taste
The wine’s lively crimson colour is accompanied by a fragrant bouquet of dark cherry, blackberry, pepper and aniseed, with a savoury, textured mouthfeel. Although weighted for early drinking, the 2011 Marked Tree Red has a sturdy spine and will age gracefully.
At over 10 years of bottle age, this wine is ready to drink now. It has been carefully cellared, and will cellar well for another decade.
The Marked Tree Red vintages (’05, ’09, ’15) took out the Red Wine of Provenance Trophy at The 2016 National Wine Show of Australia.
