St Hallett Blockhead Barossa Shiraz 2017
St Hallett Blockhead Barossa Shiraz 2017
The father of Australian viticulture, James Busby, brought cuttings of what became known as Shiraz to Australia in 1832. Today it is the most widely grown grape in the country, gracing 28 percent of Australia’s vineyards. No one is quite sure how the grape got its moniker. Although it has been posited that Syrah/Shiraz is descended from a grape in the ancient Persian city of Shiraz, or that it originated near the Sicilian city of Syracuse or on the Greek island Syros, DNA evidence points to the fact that Syrah originated in France. It is unclear exactly why it is called Shiraz in Australia.
On the other hand, we know that Blockhead is an homage to the original European settlers of the Barossa Valley, who had square jaws, a stoic character, and dedication to the land. Among their descendants, the title Blockhead is worn as a badge of honor.
St Hallett Blockhead Barossa Shiraz 2017 is inky violet-red to the eye, with aromas of black cherry, cassis, vanilla and clove. It is bright at first sip, with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, butterscotch, and anisette that are supported by a fine network of tannins and a long, smooth finish.