This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Australian Red Blend over £15 went to The Colonial Estate, In Exile Shiraz-Cabernet, Barossa Valley, South Australia 2011 (14.5%)
Tasted against:
- No other Golds in this category
Profile:
The Colonial Estate was set up by Jonathan Maltus in 2002 (he also owns Château Teyssier and Le Dôme, both in St-Emilion, and World’s End in Napa Valley). In 2010 it was sold to former accountant Damien Lister and ex-landscape gardener John Harris. ‘Our whole approach to winemaking in the Barossa Valley has been French with an Australian twist,’ they say. ‘This is what guides us, the best of traditional winemaking with the influence of New World winemaking.’
In Exile is a marriage of 85% Shiraz and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Shiraz comes from Greenock on the western side of the Barossa Valley. The soil here is known as Greenock Brown Earth and is very low yielding due to weathering and erosion reducing its mineral content. The vineyards produce yields ranging from 30hl/ha up to just 60hl/ha in outstanding years.
The fruit was transported at the start of the day to avoid the extreme summer temperatures. Once in the winery the grapes underwent another selection and were then co-fermented in large wooden vats before ageing in French oak. Following 26 months in oak, the best barrels were selected for the final blend and then separated from all the other wines, hence they were In Exile.
Written by Decanter
