Forefathers 2003 Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia

Philosophy

Forefathers Shiraz comes from a single vineyard on Copper Mine Road in McLaren Vale, South Australia.

The Shiraz by Forefathers is one of three single vineyard wines produced by Goldschmidt Vineyards. The Forefathers' wines include a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley in California. "Forefathers" means "the best appellation, or the forefather appellation, for that variety in the New World".

Winemaking

With Forefathers wines, we are looking for structure, intensity and complexity. We select only ripe grapes with excellent maturity and well-developed flavors. The Forefathers Shiraz is made using traditional Australian winemaking techniques, with short time on skins and fermentation in barrel. After ferment is completed the wine is barrel racked and left in French oak for 12 months. The wine remains unfiltered and unfined, so preserving as much of the natural flavors a possible.

Characteristics

McLaren Vale fruit characters for Shiraz are gorgeously spicy, rich and delicious. There are notes of plum, black pepper, spice and soft note of sweet vanilla. The barrel ferment technique makes the wine fruit-forward, with sweet, ripe tannins and early integration of oak.

Appellation:	McLaren Vale, Australia
Varietal Composition:	100% shiraz
Production:	1,174 cases
Total Acidity:	7.27 g/liter
pH:	3.41
Alcohol:	14.4% by volume
Residual Sugar:	Dry

Winemaker Comments

"This one is the best wine we have made under the Shiraz label, being a similar vintage to the 2001. The key to Forefathers is balance and complexity with underlying power. On the palate the wine is firm, textural and viscous. The long silky mouth makes the wine drink beautifully now, and will improve over the next five years. In 2003 we had very low yields culminating in big pepper spice flavors and very supple tannins. A wine that will be hard to have only one glass!"

Goldschmidt Vineyard | Forefathers

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