Kaesler Avignon Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre 2017 (Australia)

Description

• French oak
• Wild strawberries
• Baking spices
• Savoury tannins

Dark cherry with a bright youthful edge. Floral and elegant with cranberries, wild strawberries and sweet baking spices. Medium body, fine savoury tannins and fresh acidity. The fruit purity of Grenache is framed by the great length of Mourvèdre and the juicy mid-palate presence of Shiraz.

All three varietals were hand-picked and spent two weeks on skins in stainless steel (with some whole-bunch fermentation). Racked once after MLF, pressed, and left to settle for 2 days before being transferred to 4-year-old French oak barriques for 18 months barrel maturation.

The name Avignon is a cheeky (yet reverential) nod to the great French wines of the Southern Rhône Valley; “Rhone varietals” Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (Mataro) are the backbone of famous blends such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, just up the river from the city of Avignon. Kaesler Avignon is always Grenache-dominant with a variable composition of Mourvèdre or Shiraz (or both) reflecting the unique characteristics of each vintage. We never follow a recipe; it’s a delicate balance.