Product Description
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Sanguine Estate, Inception, Shiraz, 2019, Heathcote, Victoria, Australia
Producer Profile
“From the moment we laid eyes on the land, we knew we had discovered something special..”
That something special was rich undulating fields in the shadows of Mt Ida, Heathcote, Central Victoria. Tony and Linda Hunter’s vision was to create a family-run boutique vineyard where quality, passion and energy were reflected in the wine.
Embraced by children Mark and Jodi and their respective partners Melissa and Brett, Sanguine Estate expanded from 16 acres to 55 in just five years.
The family’s desire to produce great wine flows through every glass. Through natural winemaking techniques combined with small batch processing and hand plunging, the purity and integrity of the wine is enhanced.
Viticulture
A relatively dry winter was followed by some useful spring rain. The vines grew well early in part thanks to a healthy end of 2018 vintage providing lots of stored energy. January and February were relentlessly hot and dry, bringing on harvest early and fast paced.
An early start to harvest always makes Mark nervous as the sugars are accumulating faster than the preferred flavour profile, sometimes resulting in high alcohol with green characters. It was decided to get started earlier than normal but thankfully all the flavours were there resulting in a very special vintage with deeply concentrated wines.
Winemaking
Sanguine utilize traditional winemaking practices such as small fermentation tanks, natural fermentation (i.e. no yeast additions) and gravity feeding. Whilst this can be quite labour intensive, Mark believes it ensures the preservation of natural fruit flavours and the Heathcote terrior character. As with all varieties produced at Sanguine Estate, the grapes were destemmed, lightly crushed and then naturally fermented with wild indigenous yeasts in small open fermenters. The wine is then transferred via gravity (to avoid pump shock) to predominantly French oak barriques (approximately 10% new) and left to mature for approximately 18 months.
Tasting Note
The 2019 vintage was exceptional for Sanguine and this has all the hallmarks of a complex age worthy Heathcote shiraz. A very concentrated dark purple, bright and youthful. Pleasing aromas of violet, dark cherry and blackberrys with just a hint of oak and spice absorbed by the intense concentration of fruit. This shiraz is classic Sanguine, rich, vibrant with great balance.
The noticeable tannins combined with lush cherry and blackberry fruit give this wine great length and texture, totally delicious.
Goes well with
Braised Lamb shank with borlotti beans and celeriac puree.
Cellaring
Will reward significant cellaring.
Don’t just take our word for it…
96 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion 2023
Features
Varieties: Shiraz 100%
Colour: Red
ABV: 14.8%
Closure: Natural Cork
Style: Still Wine
Case Size: 6 x 75cl
Country: Australia
Region: Victoria
Vintage: 2019
