'Rock Hill' Shiraz SOLD OUT
2006

This wine will appeal to those that like their red wines onthe generous side. Rich, dark and brooding, this is a full-bodied and flavoursome Shiraz that so typifies the variety from this region. Subtle oak, soft tannins and long, complex flavours combine seamlessly to round out a most impressive wine. This wine can be enjoyed for many years to come.

The Vintage

The fruit for this classic Shiraz came from our 'Rock Hill' vineyard - planted in the 1990's. It has an unforgiving soil structure, with sharp, flat shale, bits of limestone and occasional lumps of sandstone all bound together with a sandy loam mix. Hard to walk over and even harder on the tractor's tyres, but the
Shiraz vines have come to love it - eventually. Now in full maturity, the vines regularly provide fruit of outstanding colour and varietal intensity. Yields vary depending on winter rainfall, but quality, year in year out has, so far, been consistently good.

2006 was a good vintage overall, if a bit warm towards the end of the season, and fruit quality was as good as we have come to expect from this, our youngest of vineyards.

Vinification

The grapes were received at the winery at around 14.5° Baume and crushed immediately, with the juice allowed to steep on skins before pressing. In what has become a 'house style' at Conte Estate, the juice was fermented in small batches, using open fermenters, with some of the juice finishing ferment in barrel to acquire that added complexity.

A combination of new and prior-use American oak hogsheads was used for twelve month's barrel maturation, with a small (5%) component of new French oak contributing a noticeable effect. The individual barrels were then assessed and the finished wine blended before bottling.

Technical

Alcohol by volume; 14.5% v/v
pH; 3.50
Titratable Acid; 6.30 g/L
Varieties; 100% Shiraz
Geographical Indication; McLaren Vale, South Australia

Awards and Accolades

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	Gold Medal, 2006 'Rock Hill' Shiraz International Wine Masters Challenge, Portugal View Editorial  |  Visit Web Reference EDITORIAL: The “Wine Masters Challenge” - World Wine Contest, is already been deemed by experts as a barometer for the world wine sector activity. The 2009 event will be the biggest ever, including a jury of 600 qualified technicians from 51 countries. The event will be held in Estoril from March 26th to March the 29th at an Estoril Hotel. The International Wine Challenge offers producers the chance to have their wines endorsed using the most rigorous of judging processes - every wine entered is assessed at least twice, and the medal winners will be judged anywhere from 3 to 6 times. Staging such a seamless two-week competition is no easy task and requires a year of planning.
	2006 'Rock Hill' Shiraz, Bronze medal 2008 Australian Small Winemakers Show EDITORIAL:
	2006 Rock Hill Shiraz, 4 Stars Drew Lambert - WineWriter View Editorial  |  Visit Web Reference EDITORIAL: Conte Estate McLaren Vale 2006 Rock Hill Shiraz - Not bad for an $18 wine from McLaren Vale - Lashing of rich, opulent plum and blackcurrant fruit mashing up against a spicy menthol taste. Quality 4 stars / Value 4 stars
	2006 'Rock Hill' Shiraz, 89 Points 2009 James Halliday Wine Companion View Editorial EDITORIAL: Blackberry, plum and spice, with a dusting of chocolate; stained Cork 14.5° alc. RATING 89 DRINK 2013 DATE TASTED Dec 07
	2006 'Rock Hill' Shiraz, 91 Points Wine Writer, Paul Ippolito View Editorial EDITORIAL: From this McLaren Vale producer comes this intense and deep red, with loads of spiciness and an edge of earthiness. Dark black fruits abound as well - blackberries, currants, plums with coffee mocha oak, quite forward yet with a smooth soft long finish with fine grainy tannins auguring a long future. Still in its infancy. And good value drinking. Try this with Irish stew. Drink to 2018. About $18. 91/100 - Excellent.
	2006 'Rock Hill' Shiraz, Bronze Medal 2008 Boutique Wine Awards EDITORIAL:

Availability

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