The 2017 Hunter’s Shiraz is a blend of old vine Shiraz from the Somerset, Hillside, and Tinkler’s vineyards in Pokolbin. The 2017 was a very high quality, albeit hot, vintage. Whilst still retaining the medium bodied frame typical of Hunter Shiraz, the wines are showing a rare abundance of fruit flavour and supple tannins, reflecting the unique qualities of the season. Each parcel of fruit was cold soaked for 3 to 4 days prior to fermentation, which we ran warm to hot (up to 32 degrees Celsius) over a 5 to 7-day period. This was followed by a modest 9-month maturation period in (20% new) French oak puncheons – the shorter maturation period reflecting our desire to deliver a vibrant style of Hunter Shiraz true to the region and source vineyards. This is a wine that will reward careful cellaring over 5 to 10 years.