Springs Road Shiraz 2017 (Australia) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely Shiraz from Kangaroo Island in Australia. It is a brand new wine to the LCBO, landing in Ontario over the weekend as part of the June 10th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Springs Road Wines is owned and operated by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith, owners of Battle of Bosworth Wines in McLaren Vale. Joch and Louise acquired the vineyards after going on a mystery tour to Kangaroo Island at the end of the 2016 vintage and while in the eastern coastal town of Kingscote they came across a sales ad indicating that the vineyard was for sale. The vineyards were located inland, about 7 km west of Kingscote, and after visiting the site they recognized the potential of the vineyards and purchased the property.

Prior to the acquisition, the property was owned by well-known locals Roger and Kate Williams. It was initially a small sheep property, followed by the planting of vineyards in 1994. The property was originally owned by Kate's father, a strict Christian who didn't approve of alcohol. The old house that sits on the property was built by local Garry Johnson's grandparents and is now used to stores the nets they put on the vines to stop the crows from eating the grapes. Garry also came by to help do some trenching for the pathway leading up to cellar door.

The winery gets its name from the road called Springs that runs just off the property in an east-west direction across the northern part of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The label that adorns the Springs Road wines is adapted from the French cartographer Louis Freycinet's 1808 map of southern Australia called "Carte Generale de la Terre Napoléon." Freycinet accompanied Nicholas Baudin on his voyage of discovery through the Southern Ocean between 1801 and 1803 and charted the coastline all the way from Wilson's Promontory in the East (Victoria) to the Nullabor National Park in the West, centring on the "Iles Decres", or Kangaroo Island. "Terre Napoleon" was the first detailed map of Australia. The extravagantly illustrated map included Australian flora, fauna, kangaroos, and seals, and some of these elements are included on the label of Springs Road wines.

I'll be honest, I didn't know anything about Kangaroo Island and its winegrowing activities. Kangaroo Island is Australia's third largest island and one of its youngest wine regions. It was officially registered as a Geographic Indication in the year 2000 and is one of five regions that make up the Fleurieu Zone. The island has built an international reputation for a pristine wilderness that is famed for the quality of its produce, as well as its natural beauty and wildlife. Kangaroo Island is a cool-climate wine region with regular maritime breezes playing an important role in moderating the ample sunshine, allowing for a long, cool ripening season, while the wines from Kangaroo Island are making an impact both domestically and abroad.

Crafted with 100% Shiraz, the grapes were grown in their vineyard from vines planted in 1994 and 2000. The soils are predominantly sandy loam soils over limestone and marl (clay) with some patches of Bay of Biscay soils (black cracking clays) interspersed with some ironstone. The soils are shallow and relatively low in fertility, while experiencing low annual average rainfall of 400 to 500 mm per year. The grapes were harvested and brought to the winery in Willunga (McLaren Vale), where they were crushed and fermented in open vessels. Fermentation was finished in barrel, followed by ageing for approximately 12 months in French oak barrels - 30% new and the rest one and two year old barrels.

The growing season on Kangaroo Island started with a very wet winter, followed by a very wet spring which made for a tricky flowering period and led to reduced yields. However, the grapes benefitted from a very late harvest - by four weeks - which led to a long, slow ripening process and helped develop maximum flavour. Let's see how this 2017 Shiraz from Australia is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

SPRINGS ROAD SHIRAZ 2017 - Kangaroo Island, South Australia (#30753) (XD) - $32.95
Screw cap. The fragrant, medium-high intensity nose is spicy with a pleasing mix of ripe red, black, and blue fruit aromas, layered over savoury earth, meaty, and black pepper spice notes. Stony mineral aromas emerge with time in the glass. On the juicy, dry, medium-bodied, and well-structured palate the lovely red, black, and blue fruit flavour replays are joined by black pepper spice, stony mineral, savoury earth, and subtle wood spice flavours. It has crisp, juicy acidity and smooth, refined, and gently chewy tannins with a touch of grip. Crisp with stony mineral notes lingering on the finish, with excellent length. Complex and very well made, this highly recommended buy can be enjoyed over the next 5+ years. Score: 92 pts

Other lovely wines from Springs Road can be ordered through their Agent - Airen Imports.