Nietschke Jack Shiraz 2019

A wine to make you stronger. Really? A namesake, Friedrich Nietzsche, had that so often used quote, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Okay, technically there is a slight spelling discrepancy but it is a new year – so some latitude please. In this case, the name comes from Samuel Johann Nietschke, rather than German philosophers, who sailed to Australia in 1838 on the ‘Zebra’. Also in 1838, another vessel, the ‘Prince George’ arrived on Australian shores with Johann Georg Kalleske. It took a while before the two families linked but in 1968, John Kalleske married Lorraine Nietschke. Both families were well known for grapegrowing and winemaking in the Barossa, and these days their sons, Tony, Kym and Troy, are in charge. This Shiraz is a tribute to all this.

The grapes here are sourced from across the Barossa, most notably Greenock. Fermentation was for 7 to 14 days on skins in open top fermenters with hand pumpovers twice daily. The wine was aged in a combination of seasoned and new French and American hogsheads for eighteen months. A dark maroon colour, this is concentrated, powerful and richly flavoured. Cassis, spices, red fruits, chocolate, black olives and more. Some oak but very good integration. There is decent length here too and fine tannins. A really lovely, enjoyable wine, and one with a future. There is a gentle fade and if one were to nit-pick, a fraction more intensity on the finish would have lifted it further, but a small quibble. This is a fine wine so don’t miss it. It may not make you stronger but it will make you happy.