Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz 2021

95 POINTS – THE REAL REVIEW, Stuart Knox
“Intense and deep ruby with a rich purple rim. Mulberry, black pepper and nori aromatics. Weighty and powerful with intense blue fruits wrapped by fine gravel tannins that accentuate dark minerality and black spice notes. Very long and focused right to the end, a hint of acidity lifts and fans out the finish. Serious gear this”

Ironheart is the flagship Shiraz from our single vineyard estate in Blewitt Springs at the northern edge of McLaren Vale. The vineyards northern aspect, higher elevation and sandy ironstone soils produce Shiraz with immense concentration and finesse.

VINTAGE SUMMARY

A favourable growing season, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period and continued spring rainfall. Vines showed good balance of shoot vigour and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. The cold nights and mild sunny days in March slowed sugar accumulation, resulting in excellent fruit ripeness and intensity.

WINEMAKING

Hand-picked (24th March), 25% whole bunches, and the remainder destemmed, mechanically berry sorted, and crushed. Open fermenters and on skins for approximately 21 days. A gentle maceration principle of wetting the cap and only draining and returning when reductive. Wild yeast ferment. No pressings are used in this wine. Matured in French oak for a total of 19 months. Kept on lees for 7 months in French oak puncheons (35% new) and then blended to a 2 year old Austrian and French oak foudre and further matured for 12 months. Bottled November 2022. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.