Henry’s Drive Dead Letter Office

100% Shiraz

Padthaway/ McLaren Vale

2008

Producer Notes

This Padthaway/ McLaren Vale blend of Shiraz offers a lovely toasted spice lift mixed with plums and red berry fruit, along with background hints fresh floral and spearmint characters. On the plate, juicy McLaren Vale berry and plum fruit are initially present; the wine is dense and hints of leather and complimentary toasted spicy notes. The characters of the Padthaway components shine in the mid-palate, with lively spearmint and lavender that freshen and add length to the wine. The Dead Letter Office has ripe, yet fine, soft tannins and is round and mouth filling with fresh acidity.

Winemaker’s Notes

The fruit is harvested when flavor is ripest, fermented on skins for five- to seven- days with pump-over four times per day. It is then pressed and completes primary fermentation in barrel which helps pressed and completes primary fermentation in barrel which helps to integrate the oak and gives soft approachable tannins. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is matured for a period of around 15 to16 months in oak hogsheads and barriques- 75 percent American, 25 percent French – using a mix of one and two year-old barrels. The grapes for this wine we re sourced from a single vineyard site in McLaren Vale and at six sites in Padthaway, which are kept separate through the vinification The blending of these wines is separate through the vinification. The blending of these wines is done just prior to bottling. The Shiraz from Padthaway is sourced from the family vineyards. These 16 year-old vines are grown in red loamy soil over limestone. The McLaren Vale Shiraz is sourced from our vineyard in the Willunga sub-region of McLaren Vale, and is on dark loamy soil at the base of the foothills.

WineChump Notes

Bursting cherry, scrumptious and chewy vanilla complete an absolutely beautiful finish.  This is a great wine at a great price.  Have this with anything from steak to pizza, or, as I do it, with a copy of Wine Spectator in one hand and a glass in the other.  Whatever you do, get this wine!

Average Price: $18.99
Find it at  Wine Library