The Opportunist Shiraz, Langhorne Creek 2018

We’ve all got a mate who, despite the calamities befalling everyone else, always lands with his bum in the butter. When everyone else sees doom and gloom, The Opportunist sees blue skies and sunshine. Love him or hate him, The Opportunist always comes out on top.

Vintage Conditions

Though 2017 was a late, cool and sometimes damp season, it ended with lower than average rainfall for the late season. Above average rainfall in July and August filled soil profiles and dams but from then on the season has been very dry. It is this dry weather that characterised the 2018 season and the low disease pressure coupled with ideal conditions for flowering and early development set the vines up for an excellent season. With virtually no rainfall between January and April, fruit quality in all areas was very good though some heat stress in February led to isolated defoliation. As we like to pick ‘on the way up’ our season began quickly with several varieties ripening at once but then progressed nicely, with the ability to pick when it suited given the settled weather.

Winemaking

As for all of our wines, the fruit for the Opportunist is picked on the way up to ripeness rather than on the way down. This way we achieve freshness and energy but not at the expense of flavour. We retain as many whole berries as possible to increase vibrancy and succulence. Winemaking is simple and is followed by 8 months on oak to increase texture and varietal expression.

Tasting

An aromatic bouquet of ripe fruits, cherries and blackcurrants, with notes of freshly ground coffee, dark chocolate, peppermint, liquorice and subtle pepper. Thick and smooth with good balanced fruit weight.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Total  Acidity: 5.59g/l

pH: 3.66

Residual Sugar: ,2g/l

SO2: 75mg/l

Fining:

Vegan: Yes

Vegetarian: Yes