Spinifex Rostein Shiraz 2018

Although this is the first release of this label, Pete Schell has been working with Rostein Shiraz fruit since the 2015 harvest. The 2018 harvest was the first where he felt he understood enough about the site and had the quality of vintage to really go for it. It was hand-picked over 10 days, then fully de-stemmed and fermented wild in both oak and stainless steel fermenters. Prior to pressing, the wine spent two weeks on skins. Aging lasted 18 months, on light lees in barriques and demi-muids. Schell worked with 50% new oak—the upper end for Spinifex’s oak regime—and yet the density of Rostein’s fruit has absorbed this like a sponge. It is simply brilliant.