2017 Tim Stevens Signature Shiraz

Intensely fruity, deep, balanced.

VINTAGE 2017 was warm and dry - a great red vintage.

VARIETY Chief Winemaker Tim Stevens’ Signature wines are made in small batches from select parcels of fruit. They are bigger, bolder and ultimately more modern in style than the Huntington Estate wines. Tim developed the style in his Abercorn days, described by Huon Hooke as “…modern, with deep vivid colours, intense blackberry fruit and new French-oak aromas, bold palate flavours and generally firm tannins”. Shiraz is Tim’s signature variety, and the style is full-bodied, supple and jam-packed with fruit.

WINEMAKING Fruit from Block 1 was picked 27/01 (early), at 14.4 Baumé and cold soaked for 3 days for a more gentle, elegant flavour profile rather than extraction from seeds. Short fermentation for 5 days, pressed off early at 4 Baumé and racked into barrel to complete fermentation. All American barriques, 10% new, 75% 2nd use, the remainder 3rd use. Bottled 9/8/18 at 15% Alc.

TASTING NOTE A worthy successor to the 2016, this wine is maturing beautifully, having settled in nicely since being submitted for review 18 months ago. Deep and intense purple, bright red and black fruit leads the way, with Szechuan/white pepper in support. Mouth-filling and voluptuous with great length and a full mid-palate.

CELLAR until 2040+

ACCLAIM

94/100 “Take quality fruit, layer oak on top and then add more oak... the weight of fruit and length of the finish will see it safely through to a positive future.” HALLIDAY 2019 

93/100 “Black fruits, smoke, toasty-charred oak, coconut and dark chocolate aromas. The wine is big and ballsy, full-bodied and quite extracted, with lashings of firm and gritty tannins, and a little bitterness that lingers together with some alcohol heat. A biggie; it should age long-term.” HOOKE 2020

94/100 “Alongside its Cabernet/Shiraz counterpart, the Tim Stevens Signature Shiraz represents the upper echelon of the Huntington portfolio. From the off it's rich and somewhat hedonistic. A deep, intense wine, yet it does so whilst letting fruit and region sing. Oak is present, yet a part, not the lead in this particular scene. Milk chocolate and sage lead, segueing to a palate that shows intensity of blue and purple fruits. Latent spice asserts a presence too, amidst this body of fruit and chocolate. Tannins are substantive, whilst this feels good to go it will only improve over mid-term. Drink to 2038 .” THE VINSOMNIAC 2021

93/100 “...a super smooth and seductive wine... Good depth and concentration is met with a gentle medley of exotic spices. Long and persistent, big and firm tannins softening over time.” QWINE 2021