The Barossa Valley is recognised globally for producing some of the finest and most collectable wines.
Continuing our stellar run of great vintages, the near perfect conditions in 2018 has resulted in another spectacular vintage characterised by intensity and elegance. 2019 will certainly be a Vintage for the lovers of powerful Barossa Shiraz. The Barossa certainly provides us with rare and distinguished wines in all kinds of conditions.
We are ready to release from our cellar to yours the new 2018 Bruce, 2019 Harold and 2018 Don Shiraz.
The Wines
2018 Izway Bruce Shiraz
An unflinching return to the traditional Barossa Valley Bruce vineyards, the bold, plush palate, and dark, brooding aromatics of the 2018 Bruce are a definitive throw-back to the early releases of this wine. Brash and unapologetically Barossan, it treads a fine line between brawn and elegance. The pedigree of this release is formidable, with the original Kalleske Bruce Block (Koonunga) supported by the structural Slade Shiraz (Greenock), along with the Hoffmann Old Shiraz (Ebenezer), which adds a touch of class and panache. The resulting wine is salivating and interesting and will go down as another classic for the cellar with the ability to satisfy with immediate consumption.
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2019 Izway Harold Shiraz
After a gap year in 2018, the 2019 Harold ventures back to the undulating hills of the Northern Eden Valley. After an extensive search, we have managed to secure a new single-hectare Shiraz vineyard within eyesight of Harold’s home in the sub region of Moculta. Like an old fisherman that can’t let go of a past favourite watering hole, we are comfortable to set up the deck chairs at this new site. The first vintage has embodied the hot summer of 2019 and is closer to the Barossa Valley in style than a traditional Eden profile. Ripe, punchy, fresh, bright and clean, the aromatics are impressive, bold and distinctive.
The similarities to Harold’s of the past are immediate, with this release reminiscent of both the 2008 and 2013 releases. The palate displays zippy acid, grippy tannin and has a plush, velvety texture. An ultimately ripe Eden Valley Shiraz that is a cracking first release from what we hope will be a long-term home for Harold.
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2018 Izway Don Shiraz
This marks the ninth release of this wine, and I feel like we are finally getting close to nailing it! The natural balance from the soil and microclimate of Ebenezer are on display, with the depth of the texture harmoniously supported by fine, elegant tannin. My two previous favourite releases are the 2010 and the 2012, and this wine has the power of the 2010 and the structure of the 2012 in a single bottle. During the last few seasons, we have picked this vineyard at two different stages, with a slightly earlier pick providing more balance and a later pick giving us depth and texture. It has taken a while for us to get this right, but I think we managed to find exactness in how these two components have combined in 2018. The other striking element in this release is how the new oak component announces its influence on the wine. I have worked particularly hard to find a barrel that suits how I want the Don to look, and after a lot of experimentation, I feel we’ve found the perfect fit for this wine.
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Overall, these three wines are as strong as we have released as a set for some time. They are wonderfully individual yet stylistically similar.
Cheers,
Craig & Isbel