Violet Hour Shiraz 2021

The name Violet Hour refers to the fading light and purplish sky that appears at the end of the day when the last clusters of Syrah are picked. The grapes come from the Rayner vineyard, planted between 1947 and 1950, a plot planted on limestone rock. Everything is picked by hand and the vinification is done at 20% whole bunch, this brings a very fine grain on the palate and a tasty freshness. The wine is aged for 10 months in old barrels, the wood is perfectly integrated. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, the palate is silky and soft, while delivering notes of blackcurrant , blackberries , plum , black cherry , pepper , violet , raspberry , bitter cocoa , aromatic herbs and licorice . . The palate is generous overtaken by an immense freshness which leaves the finish digestible and tasty.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and an ingrained knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst to explore and innovate, a fearless attitude and a diverse notebook of 65 wine regions in many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country unlike any other. Australia burst into export markets in the 1980s and since then has been providing the world with vibrant, fruity and exceptional value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, Australian wine history was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's offering of high quality and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated on the southern oceanic edge where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions located around major cities. Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and was the 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development now makes Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines which are defined by their terroir.