REGION / McLaren Vale

VARIETAL / 100% Syrah

ABV / 14.5%

WINEMAKER / Scott Rawlinson

TASTING PROFILE & THE KEY REVIEW / The Governor is the ultimate expression of our 64 acre vineyard. This wine is rich and expressive, full of intense dark berry fruit and mocha flavours, supported by well-integrated spicy tannins. Extended time in bottle has enhanced its stunning complexity and depth of flavour.

“Very deep, garnet-purple coloured, revealing pronounced aromas of mulberries, blackberry compote, mocha, damp earth, licorice, Indian spices and a hint of smoky bacon. Full-bodied and generous in the mouth, it is well-structured with very high acidity balancing the rich flesh and medium-fine grainy tannins lending texture. It has a long finish of anise and dark berries. It’s delicious now and should continue to cellar to 2020+” Wine Advocate, 2010

VINTAGE REPORT / The 2006 vintage proved to be one of the most balanced growing seasons of the decade. The ripening process was incredibly even, with the cool, dry summer allowing optimum conditions for flavour development. The resulting wines from our vineyard all displayed excellent character, depth and mouth-feel.

WINEMAKING / Winemaking is very traditional and labour intensive. Small batch fermentation took place in open top fermenters, spending 10 days on its skins before being racked to oak (88% French, 12% American) The wine was aged in barrel for 18 months before bottling. It was neither fined nor filtered so that the integrity and depth of flavour could be maintained.

HERITAGE / All fruit for The Governor comes from a single block on our family-owned 64-acre vineyard, located in the southern foothills of the McLaren Vale region. Our proximity to the ocean (situated just 2km away from the coast of the Gulf St Vincent) allows our vines to benefit from cooling sea breezes that temper the heat of our Mediterranean climate.

The Governor block is located at the top of our vineyard, where poor soil and a high clay content combine to limit water retention and allow moisture levels to be controlled through drip irrigation. These are the perfect conditions for the production of top quality Syrah, creating fruit undiluted by water – small and incredibly intense in flavor.

  • 92 Points / Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 2010
  • 94 Points / James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2009