Tranter Shiraz 2019
Tranter Shiraz is our flagship wine, a tribute to a pioneering Australian, returned WWI soldier George Edwin Tranter who once owned our lands. First made in 2008, this medium to full-bodied shiraz showcases Heathcote’s trademark minerality, depth of flavor and intensity.
VINEYARD
Block 3 of our Tellurian vineyard, in Tranter Rd, Toolleen, growing in Cambrian soils formed over 500 million-years. Deep, rich, decomposed greenstone rock with soil depths up to 2m allow roots to reach deep, while relatively low fertility controls vigour and yield.Â
VINTAGE
The warm dry conditions for 2018 continued into the 2019 growing season. Low rainfall over winter, followed with a dry spring, and hot summer. Vintage commenced in the third week of February, consistent with average start dates, and after looking like we would have a quick, condensed harvest, conditions cooled and the vintage extended slightly longer than the average.
WINEMAKING
De-stemmed, crushed to open top fermenters . Small parcels processed as whole bunches. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks and concrete fermenters with 10–16 days on skins and plunging or pump overs once to twice per day. 19 months maturation before bottling with 10 months in a combination of barriques, puncheons and demi-muids (20% new), a further 9 months in 7 year old French oak 5000L foudre.
