JM 1ST APPROACH

Unirrigated old vines naturally limit their yields, depending on the season. We have noted that these vines produce tannins with softer and richer mouth fill. For the 2004 Albert, grapes were selected from a 60 year old block of vines from the Riebke brothers in the northern Barossa. Then we were fortunate to take grapes off ultra low yielding vines that are 90 years old from Gomersal in the western hills of the Barossa.

The Teusner Albert Shiraz is named after Kym's Grandfather, Albert Alfred Teusner and comes from parcels of fruit sourced from a couple of our favourite vineyards, one old block in the Barossa’s North at Ebenezer and the other, again old vine material, at the Barossa’s Southern most extremity at Williamstown.

2010 was very kind to us in the Barossa....we believe it is one of the best vintages of the past decade. It was a long, near perfect growing season - cool nights and warm days allowing the grapes to mature with fantastic balance and flavours.

The wine is crushed and fermented in open fermenters with twice daily pump-overs before heading to French oak (30% new) for around 18 months before the barrels are classified, the wine blended and again retuned to barrel briefly to re-integrate before going to bottle without fining or filtration.

Pure, expressive and displaying the Albert is a joy to drink now but will greatly reward those patient enough to give it a rest in the cellar for a dozen years.

Variety: Shiraz 100%.

Bouquet: Concentrated, opulent aromas of blackberry, black Satsuma plum, black cherry and cassis burst from the glass with great intensity. Hints of heady fruitcake spice, licorice, dark chocolate, clove and well integrated vanillin oak flit around in the background along with a light waft of jasmine.

Palate: Concentrated, supple and velvety in the mouth with a lovely sense of energy across the palate. Again intense black berry fruits come to the fore with hints of deep-set baking spice, dried citrus peel, dark chocolate, polished leather, licorice and judicious dreamy oak. Intense but showing great tension between the ripe fruit, melt-in-the mouth tannins and bright acidity the wine finishes with great length and aplomb

Blue and black fruit, peppermint and creamy nougat oak. Ripe, but only just nudging full bodied, with a smooth and even palate, good acid balance, fine tannin, and a long sweetly fruited finish. Has some finesse – not clunky – a lively finer style. Sure to cellar very well too.  Rated : 93+ Points Winefront.com.au