【Halliday Wine Companion 95 pts】
【James Suckling 93 pts】
ZTAU021 - Wolf Blass Platinum Medlands Shiraz 2014
Type：Red Wine
Grape Varieties：100% Shiraz
Region：Barossa Valley
ABV：14.5%
Volume：750ml
Winery
Wolf Blass was founded in Australia's Barossa Valley in 1966. The brand is sold in over 50 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Its portfolio includes the renowned Platinum Label, the distinguished Black Label, and the regionally inspired Grey Label, featuring Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, exquisite Riesling, and refreshing Chardonnay.
In 1961, Wolf Blass, already a renowned winemaker in his native Germany, immigrated to the world-renowned South Australian wine region of the Barossa. He initially worked at Kaiser Stuhl as sparkling wine manager and winery technical advisor. In 1966, Wolf Blass registered the company name Bilyara and founded Wolf Blass in the Barossa. He chose an eagle with wings spread as the winery's logo, representing the German national spirit and its courage and bravery. That same year, Wolf Blass planted 3,000 vines on his vineyard, thus beginning his winemaking career.
From 1969 to 1973, Wolf Blass served as manager and chief winemaker at Tolleys Winery. During this period, he made significant contributions to the Australian wine industry, particularly in transforming wine styles. Recognized as a leader of a new generation of Australian winemakers, he created a diverse range of wine styles under his own name. Within a relatively short period of time, the young Wolf Blass quickly became a renowned figure. Today, Wolf Blass has grown from a humble tin shed to one of Australia's most successful and award-winning wineries.
In Australia, Wolf Blass is known as the "Golden Boy" of the wine industry. Besides being the founder and owner of Wolf Blass, he also holds the title of "world-renowned winemaker." To this day, Wolf Blass' wines continue to grow and improve, maintaining a strong foundation of quality, distinctiveness, and consistency. The winery has received over 10,000 awards. It has won the Jimmy Watson Trophy, Australia's most prestigious wine award, four times for its Wolfe's Black Label blend, in 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1999. Its most recent accolade was International Red Winemaker of the Year at the London International Wine Challenge. With its eagle emblem, Wolfe's Black Label continues to set the standard for Australian wine.
Region
The distinguished Medlands Vineyard lies within an exceptional pocket of ground at Dorrien on the central north Barossa Valley floor, a site long renowned for growing outstanding Shiraz. Gently sloping towards the North Para River, the microclimate benefits from cooling breezes flowing down-river from the foothills and enjoys optimum sunlight, low rainfall and low humidity.
The vineyard is comprised of ancient soils ranging from loamy sands over light clays to sandy loams over medium clays, laid down 5 million years ago when an uplift of the Eastern ranges and a sinking of the valley floor caused the central valley to fill with sediments. This unique terroir results in Shiraz of purity, elegance, tight structure and flawless balance.
Winemaking
The ultimate culinary feast! The Platinum Series exemplifies the essence of terroir, capturing the region's unique flavors with precision and integrity through the winemaker's masterful winemaking techniques. This wine utilizes fruit from the Medlands Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, creating a style that combines power and beauty. The renowned Medlands Vineyard, located in Dorien, is located in the north-central Barossa Valley and has long been renowned for its exceptional Shiraz. Sloping gently toward the Para River North, the microclimate benefits from cooling breezes from the foothills, optimal sunshine, low rainfall, and low humidity. The vineyard's soils are ancient, ranging from loam to light clay to sand over medium clay, all formed over 5 million years ago when the eastern mountain ranges formed as tectonic plates rose and the valley floor subsided, filling the Central Valley with sediment. This unique terroir creates pure, elegant, and tightly structured Shiraz wines with impeccable balance.
Rating
Halliday Wine Companion 95 pts
A wine for those who like ‘em soft, molten and rich. Vanilla-mocha-caramel brittle oak leads off. A swathe of vanilla and blueberry, too, segueing to sweet, raisiny tannins. There is some herbal complexity providing respite to the power and fruit sweetness, while platforming an impressive strut across a very long finish.
James Suckling 93 pts
A very fresh array of plum and blackberry aromas and flavors in a round, silky and long sleeve of fine, powdery tannins. This is very fresh, and it has plenty of potential.
