Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz

The extreme summer temperatures (and more sunshine hours) that the Barossa Valley experiences results in full-bodied Shiraz's which are generously flavoured, and the Dandelion Lionheart Shiraz is a fantastic example of this. Intense crimson in colour with youthful purple hues. On the nose and palate, lifted blue fruits, juicy, ripe plum, ripe blackberries and Christmas pudding-like spice flow out of the glass alongside more subtle tones of spicy pepper, hints of bramble and dark chocolate. Lashings of sweet spice, from the oak-influence add some additional complexity to the wine. Firm but fine tannins and dark chocolatey nuances continue throughout the lengthy palate with a youthful, fruit-forward finish.

Whole bunches were hand harvested, gently crushed and naturally fermented in open fermenters for eight days. The cap was hand plunged twice a day before the fruit was carefully pressed off the skins using a basket press into a mix of new and previously filled French oak barrique to finish fermentation. After 18 months maturation and a racking in the same oak, the wine was bottled without filtration or fining, to capture the essence of the vines.