Two Barossa Greats from the home of Saltram

April 2002

Saltram winemaker Nigel Dolan has firmly established himself as one of the great winemakers of South Australia and a couple of new releases only enhance his already formidable reputation in this, his 10th year at Mamre Brook.

Mamre Brook is one of the most famous places in the Barossa Valley. Built in 1844, it is the original house at the Saltram winery and for six generations the home of Saltram’s chief winemaker. Nigel was born in Mamre Brook house, while his legendary father Brian was winemaker and General Manager at Saltram, and the wines under this label are his personal tribute to the Barossa.

The 2000 Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon is a continuation of great recent vintages of this wine. As is typical the wine is a deep rich, purple colour and offers complex aromas of plum, dark berries and supporting oak. On the palate the wine has concentrated sweet berry fruit, with rich layers of flavour supported by predominantly French oak. The wine has great length and fine, ripe tannins.

Fruit was sourced from the Saltram vineyard at Angaston and selected vineyards from the north-eastern regions of the Barossa Valley. As is traditional with the Mamre Brook wines, it is fermented in eight tonne open fermenters with heading boards before being pressed off skins and completing fermentation in oak. The wine remained in oak (70% French, 30% American) for 18 months before bottling.

The 2000 Mamre Brook Shiraz has intense dark berry and plum aromas with hints of licorice. A rich palate follows with generous berry and chocolate flavours – a classic Barossa shiraz style with soft, ripe tannins. Fruit was sourced from vineyards at Stockwell, Light Pass and Angaston. The wine underwent a reasonably warm ferment at 20-24°C for seven days before completing fermentation and subsequent maturation in a combination of new and second year American (60%) and French (40%) oak.

Both Mamre Brook wines should be widely available at leading wine stores across Australia.

For further information please contact Saltram.

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