Jester Shiraz is a blend of several blocks within the Lopresti vineyard in the Willunga district, all the way at the southern tip of McLaren Vale and on the coast. The vineyard soil types are heavy grey loam over sandstone soils, with black cracking Biscay clay intermixed. These soils have excellent water-holding capacity and require minimal irrigation. Being so close to the coast the vines experience warm summer days that contribute to fruit intensity and excellent tannin ripeness. Cooling afternoon and night sea breezes maintain good acid levels in the grapes, allowing extended maturation on the vine and resulting in complexity of the flavor profile. Depending on the vintage, the components vary, but all have a common theme of more upfront fruit than grapes destined for G.A.M. or Savitar, to make a more approachable wine style. The grapes are fermented for 5 days on skins in 2 ton open fermenters and then matured in oak from the previous year’s G.A.M. The wine has fresh, vibrant, lifted and pure aromas and flavors, with attractive cassis, pepper and licorice on the nose with a hint of nutty spice. The flavors explode with blackcurrant, plums and cinnamon layering over silky tannin and superb length. Bright, lifted and aromatic, with raspberry and chocolate mint characters. Full flavored and elegant, with dark fruit flavors of plum and blackberry, complemented by dark chocolate, licorice and white pepper spice.