96 Points

The prodigious 2002 Shiraz Apricot Block was produced from fruit cropped at 1.5 tons per acre. Its big, peppery, floral, blueberry, blackberry, pen ink, and vanillin-scented bouquet is followed by a wine with a nervous energy that is totally in keeping with the cool 2002 vintage. Dense, with great purity of fruit, a fabulously multi-layered, full-bodied palate, and an inky finish with enormous concentration, sweet tannin, and superb overall balance, this young, unevolved Shiraz should begin to strut its stuff in 3-4 years, and last for two decades.

The fruit for Gregor Shiraz is sourced from Shiraz vines planted in 1988 on our home block high in the Barossa Ranges. The soils are rocky, yellow podzolic matter over clays.

The fruit is handpicked before being placed on racks and semi dried in the style of the famous Amarone wines of Italy. The grapes are then naturally fermented in open vats before being aged in new French Oak 1350L vats and puncheons for a period of 24 months. Bottled unfiltered.

Tasting notes: Wonderfully rich textured with a smooth character and good concentration. Complex red fruits with some spiciness. A very interesting wine.

Wonderfully rich textured with a smooth character and good concentration. Complex red fruits with some spiciness. A very interesting wine.

Purple and maroon with a dense, youthful edge. Blackberry, raspberry, plum, blueberry, with lifted mocha and spice complexity. Secondary aromas of vanilla, coffee and charred oak offer added complexity. Due to the season the palate is fine and textured. Tight tannins grip well but are nicely balanced with glycerol sweetness from the old vines. Finish is firm with excellent persistence in flavour.