Clos Otto Shiraz
2020 Cellar Release
Opulence, complexity and balance all come to mind when thinking about the Clos Otto Shiraz...
With vines planted by previous owner Otto Kasper using a cutting from an ageing and secret Shiraz clone, and tended to with almost antique machinery and a well-practiced hand, the Clos Otto vineyard consistently yields super low quantities with ultra rich flavours.
(Due to volume scarcity, a 3 bottle limit applies)
Accolades
James Halliday Wine Companion - 96 points
The Wine Advocate – 96 points
Vineyard
G-Block: Shallow red clay loam overlying red plastic clay | North-south oriented rows | Elevated eastern aspect | Long even sunlight
Upshot: Soft elegant tannins | Complex aromatic and flavour profile
Vintage
Pre-vintage
Rainfall: Drought breaking winter and early spring rainfall | Dry late spring early summer
Temperature: Late Spring heat spike | High winds during flowering
Upshot: Balanced vines | Accelerated ripening| Early budburst
Vintage
Rainfall: Dry conditions
Temperature: Two January heatwaves | Warm otherwise | Mild during vintage
Upshot: Early harvest | Excellent ripening and flavour development | Intense and even flavoured wines
Winemaking
Fermentation: Crushed and de-stemmed | Left on skins for 8 days | Open pump-overs and hand plunging | Basket pressed
Oak: French – 90% new, 10% old | Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation
Technical Analysis: Alcohol – 15.0% | pH – 3.55 | Acid – 6.8g/L | RS – <1.0g/L
Noteworthy Dates
Harvested: 1st March 2010 | Bottled: February 2012 | Re-released: September 2020
Profile
Sensorial
Profile: Blackberry | Chocolate | Liquorice | Fennel flower | Olive tapenade | Violets | White truffle
Texture: Dense and silky | Outstanding palate length | Exceptional balance | Complex and layered
Animal/Vehicle/Musical
Animal – Wedge-tailed Eagle
Vehicle – Ferrari Roma
Musical – Grand Piano