About this WINE
Portavin
The unusual-sounding blend of the red Syrah with the white Viognier finds its origins in the Cote Rotie vineyards of the Northern Rhone. There it was more a case of accidental co-planting than any purposeful design, but the result was so successful that it is now done systematically and is being replicated elsewhere in the world.
The aim is to use a smidgeon of the perfumed, floral Viognier to mitigate the deep, dark, brooding power of the Shiraz. The name is, of course, a play on words relating to the wines of Crozes Hermitage, one of the best-known vineyards of the Northern Rhone.
Their Stone The Crows Shiraz & Viognier wine, however, is far from frivolous. Sanderling Vineyards , based in Victoria, produce the wine, which is matured entirely in tank, with no oak influence, and is a blend of grapes drawn from several sources in South-east Australia.
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
The unusual-sounding blend of the red Syrah with the white Viognier finds its origins in the Côte-Rôtie vineyards of the Northern Rhône. There it was more a case of accidental co-planting than any purposeful design, but the result was so successful that it is now done systematically and is being replicated elsewhere in the world.
The aim is to use a smidgeon of the perfumed, floral Viognier to mitigate the deep, dark, brooding power of the Shiraz. The name is, of course, a play on words relating to the wines of Crozes Hermitage, one of the best-known vineyards of the Northern Rhône .
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee