Schubert Estate The Sentinel Shiraz 2015

Given that pretty much everything else from this impressive estate emerges with a goose motif of some sort, one might wonder why this is called ‘The Sentinel’? There seems no (public) explanation but as those birds are better watch dogs than most watch dogs, that is my guess. 

This wine is sourced from two discrete blocks within their Marananga vineyard. As is usual for this estate, the grapes are hand-picked, then destemmed and fermented in 5 tonne open top fermenters. Pumpovers are twice daily. Again, basket-pressing with both free-run juice and pressings combined. Maturation is for 16 months in a mix of new (26%) and old (74%) French oak 225-litre barriques. Bottling follows barrel selection.

A very dark red colour here. Cracking aromas. This is a lovely, big, bold, cuddly, plush Barossa shiraz, exactly the thing that has earned this variety so many fans around the globe. Chocolate, coffee bean and mocha notes. It is already six years old but it seems brand new. Delightfully fresh. Long soft tannins, very good length and nicely balanced. 10 years at least ahead. Utterly delicious.