2013 Chris Ringland Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz

My collaboration with Adrian that is Hoffmann Vineyard seeks to re-define the relationship between grape grower and winemaker. Traditionally, in a scenario where grower and winemaker are not one in the same, the winemaker communicates with the grower to determine the harvest parameters required for the style of wine. I am fortunate to be able to combine my winemaking skills with generations of Hoffmann family grape growing knowledge, with Adrian determining the sectors of the vineyards to be employed to create the unique insight into the regional and seasonal expression of any given year.

Adrian and I strive to make a powerful and rich expression of Shiraz while retaining the soft, luxurious tannin structure achieved by extended barrel maturation. As always, the 2013 Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is the result of a rigorous barrel section process.

The Winter of 2012 was wetter than average, but unusually dry conditions developed during the Spring. There was some frost damage to vine buds on the Valley Floor. Even though conditions during flowering were very good, the yield outcome was lower than expected, because of these dry conditions. Early summer weather conditions during the build up to the 2013 vintage were quite mild resulting in earlier than expected ripening.

Barrel selections of Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz comprise 100% new French oak. The wines were matured in barrel for 68 Months before blending, and bottled on Thursday November 15, 2018.
1,765 bottles, 102 magnums, 12 double-magnums and four imperials were filled.

This wine is still very young. If you are tempted to open a bottle now, I strongly suggest 6 to 12 hours in a decanter prior to enjoying.
The 2013 Chris Ringland Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz will mature effortlessly for decades to come and reward those patient enough to wait until 2030 to open.