Dutschke - Barossa Valley

2003 St. Jakobi

Shiraz

In 1934 my Grandfather, Oscar Semmler purchased the vineyard and grazing property across the road from where he and his brothers grew up. The property is located at Lyndoch in the Barossa Valley, along side of the "St. Jakobi" Lutheran church and school. It is in the St Jakobi Church where my great grandparents, grandparents, parents and now Brenda and myself have all been married.

The Shiraz grapes for "St. Jakobi" come from this family vineyard, from vines planted in 1975 by Oscar's son Ken Semmler (my uncle).

We've been blessed by having "great dirt", and a vineyard that consistently produces fruit each year that shows elegance, richness in spice, plum and chocolate like characters.

This 2003 "St Jakobi" Shiraz is made using the same techniques I started with back in 1998.

We harvest the vineyard on 2 or sometimes 3 occasions, picking across the flavour spectrum, ferment in open fermenters and age the wine in a combination of both French and American oak hogsheads, purchased from 9 different coopers. This allows me to combine the wines from those better barrels to make a more interesting wine showing the full potential of the Shiraz fruit.

We trust you'll enjoy it!