Knappstein 1878 Transcendence Shiraz 2021

The new elite red wine in the Knappstein portfolio, created to celebrate the 1878 brewery origins of what became the Enterprise winery site in 1974 and the journey from then ‘til now. Sourced entirely from the estate’s Provis vineyard, there are distinctive signs from the start here, moody dark fruits and subtle ferrous, iodine and inky notes with a depth of background oak that adds a creamy feel – 1/3 new oak, 1/3 one year old and 1/3 two-year-old in play. While there’s a fascination in the darkness and intensity here, with all those aromatic complexities and flavours emerging from a decent coat of tannins, the wine remains mid-weight with lively acidity and a pleasing vitality that seems counter-intuitive given the concentration within. With all those layers, it definitely begs for deeper contemplation.