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Allies is a venture between Barney Flanders and David Chapman, and whilst only established for a few years these boys are already achieving a fair bit. A few weeks ago we caught up with Barney and tasted a selection of the new releases under the 'Garagiste' and 'Stone Axe' labels, with this Heathcote Shiraz a standout. This is an restrained, elegant example of Heathcote Shiraz with plenty of texture and flavour packed into it, we love it and we think lovers of Heathcote Shiraz will do too.
"95 Points. Deep crimson; a luscious wine, with perfectly ripened fruit aromas and flavours; blackberry, plum and a touch of licorice; exemplary tannin and oak handling. Screwcap. 13.8% alc. Drink 2023. Date Tasted Jul 09" - James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au.
"Wild and funky, this charming and rather disarming young shiraz has a spicy, minty bouquet whose deep dark aromas of plums, smoked meats, cloves and cinnamon and sneezy black pepper reveal Bovril-like undertones. Medium to full in weight, it's long, dry and savoury, with piercing, slightly raisined fruit and meaty nuances underpinned by deliciously crunchy, bony tannins. It's long, fresh and focused, finishing with length and balance, charm and acidity.(17.5/91, YTD 2013-2016+)" - Jeremy Oliver, jeremyoliver.com.au.
"Our vision for Heathcote Shiraz is for a concentrated wine without excessive alcohol and overripe flavours. We take fruit from Glen and Cathy Rathjens tiny Stone Axe vineyard in Colbinabbin. Cathy, has an organic approach to viticulture, irrigates sparingly and produces fruit with great concentration. This year both components were 50% whole bunch and wild yeast fermented in small open fermenters with regular plunging and pumping over. The wine was left on skins for 19 days to extract then soften the tannins, then matured for a further 10 months in two year old French oak Puncheons. The wine shows characteristic earthy, gunpowder and bay leaf aromas with fine and abundant tannins. 120 cases produced." - Notes from Allies.
