A very special tasting – Goose Yard Block Shiraz 2012, 2018 and 2020
The presentation of 3 vintages of the same wine allows special insight into the influence of harvest conditions, the progression of time in bottle, and subtle changes to winemaking approach that evolve with lived experience and the perpetual pursuit of excellence. How origin, climate, human desire and patient cellaring subtly impact flavour, character and texture, distancing wine from every other beverage and making it truly fascinating.
Our standard practice is to release our wines for sale three years after vintage. Allowing for approximately 2 years barrel maturation followed by a further year in bottle in our winery cellars. Upon release, we aim for the wines to capture a bright and pure expression of vintage, variety and vineyard framed within the classic Schubert style of deep colour, rich flavour and bold structure.
Whilst each Schubert Estate wine is extremely enjoyable upon release, we are confident in recommending a peak drinking period extending from 10-20 years. In the first decade, the flavour intensity and structure we aim for in all our wines is retained whilst the fruit tannin profile gradually softens. Secondary characters come to fore in the second decade delivering greater complexity as savoury/ earthy notes along with hints of leather, cedar and tobacco emerge. Beyond 20 years, colours begin to fade and the core of dark fruit retreats to be consumed by very delicate spices and dried fruits. From an objective standpoint, a journey defined by evolution and change. Subjectively speaking, peak enjoyment is inevitably determined by personal preference. We encourage an open mind.
One thing's for sure, enjoying old wines with friends creates plenty of conversation!
I’d strongly recommend gathering friends to enjoy these three wines together. The wines should be removed from your cellar and stored vertically for at least 24 hours before serving. Each wine should be decanted shortly prior to tasting, ensuring that any tannin deposits that have settled at the bottom of the bottle remain there. The wines should be enjoyed in the order of oldest to youngest so you’re best able to appreciate the more subtle characters of the older wines before proceeding to the more robust younger wines.
Make sure to take plenty of pictures and share them on social media, tagging @SchubertEstate on Facebook and @schubert_estate on Instagram. We’d love to hear and see how you enjoyed our wines.
