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"I have spent most of my career in the Barossa, in particular the warm and sunny Marananga of the Western Barossa Valley. However, I also learned early on to have great respect for the cooler, high hills of Flaxman’s Valley in Eden Valley. I understand their differences but equal greatness of the two regions and want my wines to reflect that. Therefore, my production is derived from both regions. My most premium wines are two single-vineyard Shirazes – one from Flaxman’s Valley in Eden and one from Marananga in the Barossa.
The six vineyards I chose to represent our single vineyard series: two Shiraz vineyards from each the Barossa Valley & Eden Valley, one Grenache vineyard and one Mataro vineyard. Some of these vineyards are the same vines that I first brought back to life and have now been tending to for over two decades. Many now live well into their second century of age. I named our single-vineyard wines after the original settling family that had the foresight to plant those vines in the variety and soil that they did over one hundred years ago. For those people, I will be eternally grateful.
I make five wines under our regional series, which showcase traditional styles of wines that have been made in the Barossa and stood the test of time: a Grenache Shiraz Mataro blend; a blend of Barossa and Eden Valley Shiraz, a Western Barossa Valley Shiraz and an Eden Valley Riesling. In this series, we also produce a Barossa Valley Marsanne, which I recognize as one of the great white wine styles of the world and is the most premium white wine that I make." Dave Powell | Owner & Winemaker
"Sourced from cuttings off seriously old vines on his Neldner Road vineyard in the Valley’s western district of Marananga. A tutorial in the meeting of powerful Barossa Shiraz fruit and fine oak maturation managed across 18 months in second use barrels used for his top-range Kraehe Shiraz. Royal purple in the glass, dark coffee, pain au chocolat, nutmeg led baking spices to the nose, elevating compote plum that soon finds its savoury counterpoints via long, fine-grained tannins, impressively integrated across the whole length of the palate, finished with a subtle olive-like edge. Total control at all times, seriously fine wine with seductive drink-now attractions and long-life ambitions of even greater pleasures." 98pts | Tony Love
"Dave Powell is very much a Barossa institution and his wines from this new operation are proving to be quite thrilling. Put bluntly, this is not only utterly delicious but outstanding value. From vineyards in excess of 30 years old, mostly in the Marananga and Seppeltsfield subregions, the wine spends a year and a half maturing in 4,500-litre French oak foudres. Under cork. Opaque maroon in colour, there is power, balance, concentration, great length and intensity in this line. The oak integration is impressive, and we have flavours weaving through notes of chocolate, blackberries, cassis, mocha and licorice. Hints of beefstock, soy and cold tea lurk in the background. Youthful, but ever so promising, this is absolutely cracking drinking and should be so for at least the next ten to fifteen years. Love it." 96pts | Ken Gargett
"One thing that can be guaranteed with this Barossa vineyard and this maker is that you are going to get flavour plus in abundance. The vineyard was planted about 30 years ago from cuttings of quite old vines, and that contributes to the super-premium Kraehe shiraz. In fact, the wine was matured for 18 months in second-use barrels previously used for the Kraehe. Sure, it’s a powerhouse with loads of opulent fruit, but yet there is a degree of elegance here and refinement that is very much about a slightly more modern interpretation of Barossa shiraz. There’s a pure essence of deep, chocolatey, dark, plummy, savoury shiraz buried within this structured framework. There’s a slightly syrupy mouthfeel to it, which I find quite attractive, and captures the density and richness of the wine. An opulent style, supremely balanced and poised, with the potential for further ageing." 95pts | Ray Jordan
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