The first parcel of fruit harvested on March 29th was the foundation of now the 17th vintage of the Greenock Shiraz, hailing from Materne vineyard ran by 4th generation growers David and Angela Materne.

Planted in 1988 this 1654 clone runs north-south and sits on sandy loam over light clay and surrounds their homestead in the Moppa Springs area of Greenock.

In the early years Michael and Susan picked when fruit was sitting a little riper at the higher end of 14 baume, but in 2010 when they purchased their property and set up their own winery things shifted, and they thought that this was the time to find their own style and house signature.

Of course, once settled into their new property, the 2011 vintage hit the decks and caused apprehension into their minds, Michael and Susan closed the outside noise and ramblings and decided to pick earlier to enable growers to be able to get crops off before it all went south.

Not realising their crucial decision was going to path the way for their house style, not only did they take all the fruit they had destined to take from the growers, but they also couldn’t get over how much they loved the style, with great acids, less acid additions, brightness, and spicy characters, this was looking pretty good.

As release approached for the Devote Greenock Shiraz, they had taken the largest tonnage off this vineyard to date, and they were coming out on so much discussion regarding a poor vintage.

Nervous and anxious they felt this was the best Greenock Shiraz they had produced so far, as it went to market this wine sold faster than previous vintages.

From 2013 onwards the Greenock Shiraz has been picked around the low-mid 13 baume and from 2012 onwards the oak has been dominated by French more than American, and with 2017 onwards it is only French oak puncheons or larger.

The introduction in 2017 with a 3000L French Oak Vat home giving less oak surface area and integration sees this wine with all the power and structure a Barossa Shiraz is known for with the elegance and finesse.

With the 15th release of the Greenock Shiraz not yet released derived with a label redesign, to pay homage to this site and vineyard they wanted to signify the significance of single vineyard, hence abandoning Devote which represented Devoted to the grower, but now encompasses both grower and vineyard.

There is a familiar feel with the Greenock Shiraz fruit that every year unconditionally gives you that red purple vision, aromas of black plum, blackberry, and blueberry lift. Hints of fruit cake with a bright seam of acidity showcasing the vineyard clearly.

The only parcel of fruit that is machine harvested comes into the winery in the early morning to be left to naturally ferment with extended time on skins and then basket pressed off to 3000L French oak Vat and French oak puncheons.