The Optimist

2002 "A" Reserve Shiraz $49.95


Shiraz is the signature variety of both Mudgee and Abercorn. This wine represents the best the small winery has to offer. Three quarters of the fruit came from the ABercorn vineyard, while the remainder came from the local Njilla vineyard owned and run by Neil Geddes. Yeilds in the vineyards were beloe 5 tonnes/hectare thanks to a cool spring and summer/autumn ripening period. The picking dates varied between the 20th and 23rd March, about one week later than average. All the fruit was picked at 23.5 be sugar levels.

The goal in the winery qwas to create a wine that showed mid-palate and fruit richness typical of New World Shiraz, but with the trademark Mudgee tannin and acid structure that allow the wines to age well. The fruit was cushed and soaked for several days with 50% of the stalks added back. The wine finished ferment( and also malolactic fermentation) in 100% new American barriques. It was held in this oak with frequent racking prior to bottling in July 2003. No filtration was used.

The 2002 'A Reserve' Shiraz is the firmest of its genre to date, thanks to the cool season, good acid and tannin levels. On the nose it has intense mocha, berry and liquorice characters. It has a weighty mid-palate with strong varietal fruit evident. It is unashamedly 'New World' in style, easily identifiable as Australian while also displaying Mudgee's fine tannins. Cellaring is recommended for up to 20 years. Just 300 cases were made. Awards: Bronze Medal, 2003 Cowra Wine Show Bonze Medal,2003 Royal Melbourne Wine Show Rated 94/100 James Halliday 2005 Wine Companion.

Abercorn Wine
Cassilis Road,
Mudgee NSW 2850

Ph: 02 6373 3106
Fax: 02 6373 3108
Freecall: 1800 000 959

Email: sales@abercornwine.com.au

Abercorn Wine