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2007 Tasting Notes

2007 Willowbend

Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

WillowBend is where it all started for us. Back in 1990 Ken and I put our first red blend of Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet together and packaged it under what was then the WillowBend brand. Since then our brand has changed to Dutschke, but WillowBend has continued on as our blended red.

The idea has always been to produce a consistently full and flavoursome wine by blending the varieties that perform best in our vineyard. We've done very little differently in putting this blend together since our first, way back in 1990. Produced from Shiraz planted in 1975, Merlot vines planted in 1980, and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978, the vines grow on our "St. Jakobi" family vineyard, the property purchased by my grandfather Oscar Semmler in the 1930s.

The Shiraz (38%), and Merlot (33%) provide the ripe sweet fruit palate while the Cabernet Sauvignon (29%) gives structure and tannin support.

After years in the bottle the older "WillowBend" blends have also shown great complex characters while still maintaining their fresh fruit flavours. WillowBend is typically a very good wine to drink now, but will also benefit further by lying it down for a few years to complex with extra bottle aging.

We trust you'll enjoy it!

More Information

Winemaker:
Wayne Dutschke
Vineyard:
Ken Semmler's St. Jakobi Vineyard
Region:
Lyndoch, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Harvest Date:
Shiraz 5th March, Cabernet Sauvignon 5th March and Merlot 27th February 2007
Varietal Percentages:
38% Shiraz, 33% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alcohol:
14.7%
Oak Maturaton:
18 months in New and Older American & French Hogsheads
Cellaring potential:
5-8 years

Scores

“A wine which is in a different idiom to the Dutschke shirazs, more willowy and lighter-bodied, with a mix of savoury red fruits. - 89pts”

- James Halliday Wine Companion 2010

“Superb bright, rich blackberry fruit nicely captured here. There's an earthy nuance too and an impressive ball of flavoursome fine tannin with oak boosting structure through the finish. Balanced, even and lingering, impressive for the vintage. Drink now to 2017. - 91pts”

- Wine100, June 2009, Nick Stock

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