Fruit for the 2001 Alliance Shiraz was sourced from three of South Australia’s premier grape regions: Langhorne Creek (75%), Barossa Valley (20%) and McLaren Vale (5%). Each portion was individually vinified and then blended by Peter Fraser at Normans-Clarendon Winery. Both American and French oak were used for ageing.
The present offering’s coat is deep ruby with slight purple tones. A deep fruity nose greets you and can be accounted for by blackberry, raspberry, plum and spicy notes. Palate-wise, there’s great balance, a medium to full body and a supple, velvety mouthfeel. The finish is a long one featuring black fruit, grilled meat and oak vanilla. This is a soft, rich wine to enjoy now while the steak is on and when it comes off the grill.
Alcohol: 16%
Most of us tasting a lot of South Australian Shiraz seem to have a fixed picture of what the wine should be. The color is at the least a deep ruby but more likely opaque purple or opaque black. Flavor-wise there’s lots and lots of black fruit, red fruit, some pepper and oak-derived vanilla and chocolate. There’s lots of alcohol—indeed, lots of everything in these big hedonistic wines. Although I do like them, at times I want one with just a tad less in all these areas—less fruit, less glycerin, less alcohol and less extract. A lower price would also be helpful. The 2001 Alliance Shiraz from Australian Domaine Wines seems to fit this bill.
Australian Domaine Wines (ADW) is an "alliance" of four wine retailers from Adelaide. They source their grapes from vineyards in the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Wirrega (Limestone Coast), Langhorne Creek and the Riverland. The wines are made by four winemakers, each of whom makes different wines for the ADK portfolio.
