2005 Kaesler "Stonehorse" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia
Deep ruby coloured showing ample forest fruit with hints of cassis & spice on the nose. Reflecting the same on the palate, it is elegant and ripe with mixed blackberry and red currant fruit notes. The finish has some complexities(it's a 2005!) by now with elements of spices, dark chocolates, liquorice and light oak — a big warm wine with ABV 15,5%.
Stonehorse is the basic range yet its making is not simplistic at all. The grapes are old(30 to 40 years old planted in 1985). From the From the officlal website, it says the following. "Hand-picked and fermented with live yeast for a healthy ferment. Nine days skin contact with the ferment being pumped over twice a day for 20 minutes each time. After fermentation, it was pressed, let still for one day, then put to barrel. Following MLF fermentation, the wine was racked of its lees and then returned to barrel, where it stayed for 15 months. The average age of the barrels was about 3 years old. This has given a hint of oak but still allowing the fruit to dominate." The wine was bottled with light filtration. So, it is a concentrated yet fruity shiraz with some complexities.
Consistent ratings:
92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A good value in old vine Barossa Shiraz, the inky/ruby/purple-hued 2005 Shiraz Stonehorse (100% Shiraz from 15- to 45-year-old vines aged in used oak for 15 months) exhibits an explosive nose of sweet black cherries, cassis, tar, spice box, and liquorice. This full-bodied, sexy, up-front effort is impossible to resist. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years."
94 James Halliday: 'A clean, firm array of black fruits, dark chocolate and ripe tannins; minimal oak influence."
