WINE LOVERS: THE WAIT IS OVER.
2003 JIMMY WATSON TROPHY WINNER RELEASED
THE EIGHTH MAKER 2002 SHIRAZ
May 2006
Saltram Wine Estate is delighted to announce the release of the awaited The Eighth Maker 2002 Shiraz. The winner of the 2003 Jimmy Watson Trophy, it was created from what is being lauded as one of the greatest vintages of all time.
In one of the most hotly contested Jimmy Watson's in memory, Saltram pulled off a major coup, winning with an unknown, curiously named, Shiraz. For Saltram's eighth Senior Winemaker, Nigel Dolan, it meant continuing a dynasty of JWT wins, beginning with his father, Brian, in 1962.
Now the wine-loving public can finally experience this very special offering from Saltram.
Creator of the wine, Saltram's eighth Senior Winemaker, Nigel Dolan, has crafted The Eighth Maker to showcase pure Barossa Valley Shiraz. It also reveals the influences of the seven previous Saltram Winemakers which include his father, Brian, and Australian wine legend, Peter Lehmann.
In 2002, Nigel Dolan realised the potential of the emerging vintage and quickly squirreled away the pinnacle of Shiraz fruit suitable for the use in The Eighth Maker.
"Clearly the 2002 vintage is exceptional, but the reality is, a wine like The Eighth Maker should always be exceptional," said Nigel.
"We always seek out the best fruit for this wine, and so the standard should always be maintained the great 02 vintage just allowed us to make a little more."
Saltram The Eighth Maker Shiraz 2002 embodies a philosophy which has remained unchanged since the wine was first created in 2000: the best fruit and an uncluttered, gentle approach to the winemaking.
"We're not getting out the chemistry books to make this wine -I just guide the wine to make sure it shows itself, developing in the way I would expect and displaying the fruits' intrinsic quality," he said.
"The nuance of the process comes in the selection of fruit and blending of the wine. From the first vintage in 2000, the fruit has come from a small, treasured group of vineyards in the Barossa."
Saltram The Eighth Maker 2002 Shiraz is deep velvet red with rich violet hues in the glass. Aromas are complex, with layers of blackcurrant, liquorice, spice, dark berry and cherry continuing on the elegant, complex palate. Subtle French oak notes and refined bottle maturation characters complete this truly magnificent wine.
The hits keep coming from the 2002 vintage and The Eighth Maker is no exception, thanks to the exceptional conditions which graced the Barossa region at that time. The fruit selected for this wine showed exquisite depth and concentration, due in part to the uncharacteristically cool summer. These conditions allowed old vines to slowly and surely develop exceptionally rich and well-structured fruit.
As with previous vintages, the selected fruit was then partially de-stemmed and crushed into 8 tonne open fermenters. After ten days of on-skin ferment, the wine was then pressed and transferred into new and seasoned French and American oak for 22 months maturation. Only then was it blended and finally bottled.
Saltram The Eighth Maker 2002 Shiraz is an exciting release for the brand and consolidates the remarkable history of one of the Barossa Valley's original wineries of 150 years ago.
Befitting a wine made with such precision and care, the wine is presented in individually numbered, beautifully constructed cases of eight bottles. It is designed to be collected and enjoyed, providing a real experience to any owner.
Further to that, the 2002 vintage was launched at a very special black tie dinner in Melbourne, with acclaimed Vue de Monde Chef, Shannon Bennett, putting together a specially designed menu for the event.
SALTRAM THE EIGHTH MAKER 2002 SHIRAZ is available from selected independent retailers and fine restaurants. RRP $1500 per individually numbered case of eight bottles.
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