Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz

Wine information: Tyrrell's wines was founded by Edward Tyrrell in 1858 and, since then, it has grown into one of the largest and most prestigious wine companies in Australia. From a base of 60 acres of vines in the Hunter Valley, the estate has grown to 900 acres of premium vineyards in Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale in South Australia and the Heathcote region in Victoria. Today Tyrrell's is in the hands of 4th generation owner Bruce Tyrrell and his family who continue to produce top quality wines and build on the success if their forebears. Tyrrell's Rufus Stone range is named after The Rufus Stone. The Rufus Stone marks the accidental killing of King William Rufus by Sir Walter Tyrell. The story goes that an arrow was shot, supposedly at a stag, by the Frenchman Sir Walter Tyrell but the arrow struck an oak tree and ricocheted off it straight into the chest of the king, killing him there and then. Sir Walter then fled to Normandy! The grapes for the Rufus Stone Shiraz are sourced from the Heathcote region. Situated 100 kms north of Melbourne, Heathcote is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most exciting new red wine producing regions. Tyrrell’s planted their Heathcote vineyard in 1994 on the ancient russet red Cambrian soil, which is found at the foot of Mt Camel at the southern end of the Colbinabbin Range. Dark red and deep purple in colour, an indication of the intensity of this wine and a signature of Central Victorian Shiraz.

Tasting Notes: Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz has white pepper with ripe berries and a subtle lift of oak on the nose. Flavours on the palate are balanced showing fruit richness, savoury undertones with an elegant and complex structure.The finish is long and tightly held together by the thread of acidity, so important to the wines of this region. This style of wine, although enjoyable now, will display the benefits of cellaring in years to come.

Food & Wine match: The intense berry fruit flavours and mouth-filling appeal of this rich red wine makes it a fine accompaniment for lamb, beef and game dishes.

Reviews: "Brightly coloured with a vivid red hue, the 2008 Heathcote Shiraz opens to an arrestingly regional, clear whiff of white pepper underlined by sweetly fruited dark plum and raspberry aromas with lightly toasted notes of cedar and mocha oak playing a secondary role. Its barely medium-bodied palate possesses the mouth-coating, long prickly spice characters that so define classic central Victorian shiraz, underneath which resides some evenly ripened sweet red berry and cedar tones. There's fluid movement and development to its well composed palate, which contains enough structure from a firm, tannic backbone to suggest it'll flesh out nicely over time. Fine, sweetly fruited yet spicy, structured, long and truly regional; this is what I call a quaffing shiraz price wise, that's a downright proper shiraz style wise." Chris Plummer, Australian Wine Journal.

 
     

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