‘Puritan’ Shiraz {no added preservative} 2013
Tasting Notes
‘Puritan’ is a vibrant purple/ black colour. When you stick your nose in the glass, you get a blast of blue fruits (damsons and blueberries) and the raw essence of Shiraz. This wine is all about the fruit. The tannin structure is evident but certainly not dominant. If it’s a hot day, put it in the fridge. Drink Puritan young and fresh – and if you can’t find a wine glass, don’t be alarmed, it tastes just as good out of a regular glass. Cheers!
Vintage
We had good winter rains then warm summer conditions which brought about an early harvest. We had a few hot-cool-hot-cool periods which made it a little trickier to decide when to pick, but Joch reckons he got it right in the end.
Winemaking
Our aim is to make a young, fresh early drinking red wine, full of life and flavour. Our template for Puritan is the ‘vino Joven’ style Spanish wines (made usually with Tempranillo) which are unoaked and drunk in their infancy. Standard winemaking operating procedures were followed when making this wine at the start; we pick and ferment the grapes, then allow the wine to go through its secondary (malolactic) fermentation. Then we divert from normal SOP’s, as we bottle the Puritan immediately, without the addition of any sulphur dioxide (preservative), or putting the wine into oak barrels.
Reviews
Huon Hooke, www.huonhooke.com 12th February 2014
Very deep, dark, dense purple colour with black tints. It smells dense and thick, if that is possible, with ferruginous earthy, meaty and pepper spice aromas. The flavour is voluminous. It really fills the mouth and has a little alcohol warmth. Measured tannins. It's not an elegant wine, but it's full of character and is a generous mouthful of wine for the price. (no oak; no added preservatives)
89 points
The Wine Front November 2013
Dark in colour but full of light. Plum and blackberry jam, game, black pepper, thyme. Full bodied, fleshy grainy tannins, balanced acidity – just enough there – but feels driven and shaped by grainy tannin and pulsating black fruit. Bursts through the finish, and for a big and boldly flavoured wine, it’s alarmingly easy to drink. Terrific. Joyous bouncy Shiraz.
91 points
Tasted October 2013
Wine Will eat Itself by Jeremy Pringle 2nd November 2013
It has no added preservatives and sees no oak. And it’s a delight to drink. Battle of Bosworth have a good history with this wine.
Brimful of juicy mulberries and raspberries, red licorice, spice, milk chocolate and life. Vital acidity and fine smudgy tannin. So very juicy. So much fun. Slug it back and salute it while you do. 91
Tasted: November 2013
James Halliday's Wine Companion 2015
Deep, dense purple-crimson; made without the addition of SO2, and guarded by the screwcap, an excellent, full-bodied shiraz for those looking for a preservative-free wine. Its richness and ample, fleshy tannins suggest it may even age well.
91 points
Other Vintages
Technical Details
Vineyards: Denton's, Edgehill and Chanticleer
Picking Date: 21st, 25th, 28th February and 1st, 8th and 9th March 2013
Bottling Date: 23rd May 2013
Alc/Vol: 14.5%