Description
In 1838 Karl Heinrich ‘Eduard’ Kalleske and his three siblings together with their parents Johann Georg and Johanne Dorothea migrated from Prussia. They landed in the newly established colony of South Australia and in 1853 they settled at Greenock in the North-Western Barossa Valley and established our Kalleske farm. Eduard and his wife Anna ‘Rosina’ worked the Kalleske vineyard until the 1880s when their son took over the reins.
Today, six generations later those old vines are still prospering, thanks to the foresight and hard work of our ancestors. We dedicate this wine to Eduard which is from a selection of old vine Shiraz vineyards planted on our Kalleske property between 1905 to 1971. Hand winemaking and two years maturation has resulted in a stunning old vine wine destined for long term cellaring.
Growing Season
Vintage 2020 has delivered wines of amazing quality. However, quantity is very limited, with it being one of the lowest grape yields ever in the Barossa at around 50% of average. Yields were dire due to a combination of early mild frost conditions, then a notably windy period (45% windier) around flowering leading to poor set (not many berries) followed by some hot days in November and an overall dry growing season (34% down). Notably, quality is of the highest echelon with rich colours and intense robust flavours.
Vineyard
Eduard is sourced from three vineyard blocks on the Kalleske property that were planted between 1905 and 1971, Vines are dry grown and produce low yields. The soil is sandy loam with excellent clay subsoil.
Winemaking
The old Shiraz vines were harvested on March 11th and March 16th and the grapes destemmed into small open top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for 11-14 days on skins where hand pump overs were employed twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to new and seasoned French & American oak hogsheads where it completed fermentation. The wine was matured for two years prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
Colour:
2020 Eduard Shiraz is thick purple black in colour.
Aroma:
The aroma is instantly powerful. Uplifting with rich dark aromatics of black fruits, cocoa and liquorice with a hint of toasty oak, along with coffee and notes of tamari.
Palate:
The full-bodied palate is deep and boundless. Dark ripe fruits dominate, together with classy oak. The natural tannin profile and structure is like a seamless mosaic, a muscular dryness with mineral edges but concurrently smooth and poised. Throughout, this wine oozes classic old vine personality with its combination of generosity and pristine balance. The length is immense, completing a charming wine.
Recommended Drinking:
Eduard can be enjoyed now, but will graciously reward cellaring for a decade or more.