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2022 Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz

2022 Sweetwater Ridge Shiraz

$40.00
$40.00
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A single-vineyard wine from Sweetwater Ridge in the Belford area. This subregion produces Shiraz with distinctive ‘floral’ violet and potpourri aromatics amongst its red and blue fruited frame.


867 dozen bottles were produced, released 18th May 2024.

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Winemaking Overview

  • In the Vineyard

    This vineyard was our very first Shiraz pick of the vintage and interestingly also the ripest, hand-picked on the 17th of February.
    Located at the very end of Sweetwater Road, planted in 1998 almost certainly with the clone 1654 of Shiraz, the red/brown loamy soils over limestone found in this area tends to provide a distinctive floral lift and complexity to Shiraz.

  • In the Winery

    Hand-picked, destemmed, but not crushed, the whole berry fermentation commenced after a 24-hour cold soak. At the end of a ten day fermentation on skins, the wine was pressed off into a selection of new, one, two and three-year-old premium French oak 300L Hogsheads for maturation. The wine spent 13 months in oak before our final blending decisions, with only the very best barrels going to this wine (and a few to our '22 Elenay Shiraz blend). Bottled in June 2023 and rested for 11 months prior to release in May 2024.

    13.7% ABV

About the Vineyard

Since our very first vintage 28 years ago, we have established long-term relationships with some of the most amazing growers in the Hunter Valley, and this has been absolutely core to the success of our brand. Unfortunately, not owning all the vineyards that we make wine from comes with the inherent risk of losing access to those grapes.

In 2016, what we have come to know as the 'Sweetwater' vineyard was sold and this unfortunately ended our relationship with this vineyard. A contingency plan was devised in 2017 with Darren and Tracey Scott who own the adjacent property, Ridgeview Estate at the very end of Sweetwater Road. A suitable compromise as these vineyards are situated over the fence from one another, both planted in 1998 almost certainly with the same clone (1654) of Shiraz. The red/brown loamy soils over limestone found in this area tend to provide a distinctive floral lift and complexity to Shiraz.

We have been sourcing grapes from this fantastic vineyard since 2017 with the very first bottling of a single vineyard wine (labeled as Belford Shiraz) happening in that very first vintage. The Belford Shiraz has been extremely well received over the years, particularly amongst our members and in the 2022 vintage this vineyard has finally taken centre stage as our prime Sweetwater offering. We have decided to label the wine as 'Sweetwater Ridge' from this vintage forward to be completely transparent with the change of vineyards.

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Tasting Notes

  • Appearance & Aroma

    This wine is a deep glossy purple colour.

    A flamboyantly fragrant nose hinting at fresh flowers, raspberry conserve and five-spice, alongside ripe mulberry, damson plum and sour-cherry.

  • Palate & Finish

    A charming palate of luscious boysenberry,  black plum like fruit notes with varietal black-pepper spice. There are hints of roast coffee, blackberry liqueur, dried vanilla and cola from time in deluxe oak. This is a long and layered wine with a unique silken texture and an irresistible personality.

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WHEN TO DRINK THIS WINE

This wine is drinking deliciously now, but you will be rewarded for giving it medium-term cellaring. Enjoy this wine anytime between 2024 - 2030+

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