Dutschke - Barossa Valley

2008 Oscar Semmler

Reserve Shiraz

The Shiraz from the St Jakobi Vineyard "1975 Block" sits in barrels for up to 22 months and during this time we taste each barrel and make note of the best structured and most mouth filling parcels. Towards the end of 2009, we graded the selected barrels further and those suitable to blend together for our 2008 "Oscar Semmler" Shiraz were chosen. The "Oscar" is the reserve label for Dutschke, representing "the best of the vintage" from the 1975 block of Shiraz

In 2008 the 75 Block Shiraz grapes were harvested on two separate occasions, picking half of the block on the 18th of February and the remaining half on the 25th of February. The must was fermented for 10 days in stainless steel fermenters under our shed veranda, before being transferred to new and one year old French oak hogsheads to complete fermentation. Post fermentation the wine was racked and then returned to these same French oak barrels to mature for a further 21 months.

The 2008 Oscar Semmler Shiraz is a full bodied ripe and generously fruit filled wine, showing mid palate fruit flavours characteristic of plum and black berries. The spicy French oak characters and fine grain grape tannins compliment the round sweet fruit palate concentration. The finish is long, with firm tannins and clean acidity. It's a wine that will further soften and complex with careful cellaring.

We trust you'll enjoy it