Critics reviews
(Something for the weekend - The Independent - 24-Jun-2013)
About this WINE
Michael Hall
Englishman Michael Hall’s first career was as a jewellery valuation expert to the top auction houses, but his passion for all his adult life has been wine. After graduating with top honours in Wine Science from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, and after stints learning the ropes at various top wine estates in Australia and Europe, Michael recently set up his own winery in the Barossa Valley.
His sole objective is to make wines which reflect their individual terroir, and to this end he sources fruit from carefully chosen plots throughout the best wine-producing regions of South Australia to produce small-volume, highly individual wines which are very expressive of their origins. Michael’s stated aim is to make wines which will be “loved by some rather than liked by all”.
The response and critical acclaim has been remarkable. James Halliday and Nick Stock, Australia’s foremost wine critics, have consistently awarded marks in the high 90s.
Moreover, it’s clear that Michael Hall's wines are outstanding representations of the trend, rapidly gathering pace in Australia, and much in favour with us, to champion specific sub-districts and terroirs which are capable of producing wines of exceptional personality, a welcome antidote to the bland , mass-produced offerings which dominate our supermarket shelves.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
Interesting that Michael names this wine “Syrah” rather than “Shiraz”, perhaps to reflect the fact that this is a decidedly European style of wine reminiscent in some ways of the great wines of the Northern Rhone. The vineyard lies in Flaxman’s Valley, a corner of the Eden Valley which is situated 525 metres above sea-level, one of the highest points in the wider Barossa region.
The bouquet exhibits a complex array of herbs, lavender, blackberry and pepper with floral notes. The palate is meaty and intense but is not remotely heavy; it’s not at all in the style of the jammy, blockbuster Shiraz wines from hotter Australian regions and has remarkable elegance. Persistence and length,yes, but not massive concentration. There is also a very silky, rounded texture on the palate with very fine-grained tannins. 20 months in French oak, 50% new, but there is nothing remotely woody about the flavour.
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee