Project Description
UNION STREET SHIRAZ
Union Street Shiraz is named after the home street of Zitta wine maker Angelo De Fazio, where he’s growing in front of his home six corkscrew-trained vines taken from some of the cuttings used to make this wine. In a happy coincidence, the cuttings they come from were originally planted on the De Fazio Vineyard in 1890 – the same year in which Angelo’s home was built.
Union Street Shiraz uses fruit from three De Fazio Vineyard blocks. Grapes are open-top fermented, basket pressed and aged in old oak hogsheads for just 18 months to preserve the fresh fruit flavours. An elegant and fruit-driven with abundant varietal flavour and lingering finish, this wine recalls the honest, everyday wines Angelo grew up with at the family table.
VINTAGES
GROWING SEASON
2018 vintage was superb. Winter was slightly wetter than average getting the vines off to a brilliant start leading them into Spring which was warmer and drier than average. Rain in early December refreshed the vines and ensured they remained strong and healthy for the overall dry and hot Summer. Autumn also remained dry with perfect Autumnal temperatures leading into harvest. The 2018 yields are good and the quality is excellent, a classic Barossa vintage.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2018 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 9th & 13th of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2018 Union Street Shiraz is dark purple-black in colour. It has an expressive aroma displaying plum pudding, rose florals, dark chocolate, cinnamon spice and some toasty oak. The palate is rich and full-bodied, exhibiting classic Greenock sub region Shiraz from a superb vintage. It has a perfect combination of ripe black fruits together with rustic spice. Oak is finely integrated adding a supporting role to the primary fruit. Tannins are robust but being natural they are perfectly unified adding solid engaging structure. There is a lengthy finish to complete a very complex, well-balanced wine. Union Street Shiraz is a complex, refined and classy Barossa Valley Shiraz that has a long cellaring future.
GROWING SEASON
2017 was stunning. The vines got off to a fantastic start with a wetter than average Winter and mild Spring. Summer brought typically average warm conditions with some excellent rainfall, twice the average. This kept the vines in superb condition for steady ripening into Autumn which remained dry with warm sunny days and cool nights. Yields from 2017 are good and quality is exceptional.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2017 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 14th & 22nd of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2017 Union Street Shiraz is rich burgundy-red in colour.The bouquet is inviting, exuding characters of heritage rose perfume, cinnamon spice, dark cherry, black olive and fruit cake. The palate is full-bodied together with an elegant structure. Black and red fruits ooze forth along with hints of spice. There is well integrated fine oak adding further depth and interest. The natural tannins are evident but balanced adding definition and a muscular structure. The long finish provides plenty of lingering juicy fruits leading to a hint of toasty oak together with subtly dry tannin on completion. Union Street Shiraz a good example of a refined Barossa Shiraz that has a good cellaring future.
GROWING SEASON
2016 was hot and dry resulting in grapes ripening earlier than average. Winter and Spring rainfall was down by 38% whilst growing season temperatures were up by 3 degrees. Some welcome rain came at the end of January refreshing the vines and giving them good moisture to ripen to maturity. Yields from 2016 are solid and importantly quality is stunning. 2016 is certainly a star vintage with bright intense wines of great flavour intensity and inherent balance.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2016 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 10th & 19th of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2016 Union Street Shiraz is rich dark purple-black in colour.It is very intense aromatically and immediately indicates an impressive, and sophisticated wine. Oozing classic ripe Barossa Shiraz there are aromas of blueberry, fruit cake, deep floral, red plum, sweet tobacco, star anise and a hint of vanilla bean. The complex palate is rich and full-bodied. Intense dark fruits dominate complimented with subtle oak barrel nuances. The dense fruit is framed by strong tannins. But being naturally derived the tannins are fully integrated adding structure, definition and future longevity. The length on this wine is nothing short of ravishing. It is a dry lingering finish combined with lush fruit persistence. This is a wine of great purity and charm. Union Street Shiraz is a complex, refined Barossa Shiraz that has a long cellaring future.
GROWING SEASON
2015 produced excellent wines. It began with a wet Winter followed by a very dry growing season with less than half the average rainfall. Spring was warmer than average leading to an earlier bud burst and early vintage. Summer brought average temperatures, ensuring the dry conditions were not stressful to the vines, and a slow even ripening ensued. Quality is brilliant, certainly one of the highlights in recent years.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2015 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 7th & 15th of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2015 Union Street Shiraz is dark red-black in colour. It is aromatically very lifted and expressly attractive with ripe red fruits, sweet & savoury spice, Christmas cake, blueberry, dark chocolate, rose perfume and a hint of rosemary. The dense palate continues with these beautiful rich fruit flavours complexed by background oak. It is a very full-bodied wine of great depth and intensity. Whilst a solid wine, it has balance and freshness about it. The natural tannins are very fine, giving a lightly grippy and enticing structure. There are many layers to this Shiraz, with engrossment at every level. The finish is remarkably long and extremely engaging. Union Street Shiraz is a complex Barossa Shiraz that can be enjoyed on release or cellared for a decade or more.
GROWING SEASON
2014 was an excellent year. The wines from 2014 are strong with deep and vibrant colour, excellent fruit definition and solid but integrated tannin structure ensuring longevity for the wines. The 2014 growing season began with slightly above average Winter rainfall however Spring and early Summer were very dry with 40% less rain than normal. Temperatures were also up with the Spring/Summer growing season being an average of 2 degrees C warmer. However, this dry and warm season changed dramatically in mid February with 100mm of rain falling, the wettest February day in 45 years. The rain slowed the ripening of the grapes considerably, but average mild temperatures followed in March (25.7 degrees C) which ensured good flavour and moderate sugar development producing outstanding quality.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2014 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 5th & 12th of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2014 Union Street Shiraz is opaque purple-black in colour. Very aromatic and inviting, the bouquet displays a complexity of characters including ripe black plum, licorice, all spice, milk chocolate and clove. The rich, full-bodied palate shows immense concentration with plenty of energy. Dark fruits dominate with fine oak in support. The natural tannins are lightly grippy but very fine adding structure to support the powerful fruit. With layers of complexity this is a very pure but sophisticated wine of great equilibrium that is completed by a solid lingering finish. Union Street Shiraz is a complex Barossa Shiraz with that unmistakable Greenock district charm that can be enjoyed on release or cellared.
GROWING SEASON
2013 was a great quality year. However, yields were very low as a result of a very dry season, with less than half the normal growing season rainfall. It was also warmer than average with the dry and warm conditions resulting in vintage being three weeks earlier than normal. Importantly though, quality was amazing. Wines are rich, mouth filling and extremely lengthy.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The 2013 Union Street Shiraz was harvested between the 9th & 14th of March, and the grapes gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters. The grapes were fermented for eight to ten days on skins, were hand pump overs twice daily. The must was traditionally pressed and immediately filled to seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, where it completed fermentation and matured for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2013 Union Street Shiraz is deep red-black in colour. The bouquet immediately evokes a with a complexity of aromatics including dark berries, deep florals, sage, fresh red berries and sweet red cherry. The palate is rich and full-bodied displaying intense fruit complimented with subtle oak.Tannins are prominent, ensuring good longevity for the wine, however being natural they are still fine and integrated ensuring harmony in structure and balance. A dry but fruity lingering finish completes a very smart and pure wine. Union Street Shiraz is a complex, refined and smart Barossa Shiraz that can be enjoyed on release but can be cellared for a decade.
GROWING SEASON
Vintage 2012 was a fantastic year. The wines from 2012 are outstanding and up there with 2010 and a good vintage to have in the cellar. Vintage 2012 began with a good growing season of moderate rainfall and normal temperatures. Summer and Autumn were perfect with generally warm sunny days and only a few heat periods but nothing extreme. The weather was generally dry with an occasional shower of rain refreshing the vines and keeping things fresh. The perfect mid-high 20s weather ensured the grapes ripened steadily and evenly producing outstanding quality.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The grapes were harvested in numerous batches from 11th March to 25th March. Grapes were then de-stemmed into open-top fermenters. The must was fermented for 7-12 days on skins with hand pump-overs twice a day. After pressing off skins the Shiraz was filled to a mix of seasoned French and American oak hogsheads where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured in-barrel for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
2012 Union Street Shiraz is deep red-black in colour. The bouquet immediately leaps out with deep floral perfume of violets, dark berries, fresh fruit cake, cinnamon spice and a hint of milk chocolate. The palate is soft and fulfilling displaying dark and red fruit complimented with fine soft tannins that gives this wine a natural balance and structure. A medium to full body wine of excellent texture and lingering which completes a very enjoyable harmonise wine that drinks beautifully on release and can be cellared in the medium term.
GROWING SEASON
Vintage 2011 was the wettest growing season the Barossa has experienced for decades, with double the normal rainfall. It was also much cooler, resulting in a longer ripening process and vintage being about three weeks later than normal. However, once vintage began in mid March, April was dry and warm with fantastic ripening conditions to give a perfect finish to the vintage.
VINEYARD
Union Street Shiraz is taken across three blocks on the De Fazio Vineyard. These blocks are planted with different shiraz clones which have been sourced from three very old vineyards in the Greenock District. Each clone has its own distinct characters, which provide added complexity to the finished wine. The blocks are sandy loam soil with quartz and ironstone over deep red clays – ideal for growing shiraz.
WINE MAKING
The grapes were harvested in numerous batches from 11th March to 25th March. Grapes were then de-stemmed into open-top fermenters. The must was fermented for 7-12 days on skins with hand pump-overs twice a day. After pressing off skins the Shiraz was filled to a mix of French and American oak hogsheads where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured in-barrel for 18 months prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
The wine is dense red-black in colour. Inviting aromatics leap from the glass. Perfume, violets, cinnamon spice and fruit cake abound with a hint of chocolate. The palate is bright with red and black fruits. Mouth-filling and juicy, this is a very tasty wine. The fruit is foremost, with subtle background barrel maturation characters adding complexity. Tannins are fine and lightly drying, adding structure and mouth-feel. A medium to full-bodied wine of excellent balance. A lingering finish completes a very enjoyable wine that can be drunk now or cellared in the medium term.
