Best's Great Western Spring Releases

 

Best's returns to a springtime release schedule this year with new vintage Bin 1 Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Rosé and, of course, Sparkling Shiraz for Christmas.

 

New 2017 vintage Bin 1 Shiraz - a vintage that ran "like clockwork" according to Best's winemaker Justin Purser, with good winter rains and a long mild ripening season resulting in near perfect fruit condition at harvest. The effect of the long mild summer on the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has it resembling those vintages of the 80s and 90s rather than those vintages of this century. The 2018 Great Western Riesling and Rosé are just in. These vineyards were unaffected by the November 2017 frost which devastated the lower-lying home blocks at Best's, so volumes for these 2018s are as normal and the excellent ripening weather resulted in a standout year for Riesling in particular.

 

 

Best's Great Western Bin 1 Shiraz 2017

Deep magenta with a garnet hue.
An explosion of aromas- pepper, aniseed, cocoa, rosé petals, plum and black olives- all vying for attention. A background of bay leaf and nutty oak adds to the complexity.
Plush and rounded red and blue fruit flavours leap forward and circle the tongue. The medium bodied richness is highlighted with pops of savoury pepper then drawn out to a long finish with fine powdery tannins.

 

 

Best's Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Very dark red with dense crimson hue.
High noted varietal aromas of blackcurrant and tobacco leaf with subtle tones of cedar and cashew.
Dense mid weighted plush, black fruits with assertive but smooth and velvety tannins giving direction and length.

 

 

Best's Great Western Sparkling Shiraz 2015

Very dark purple with a ruby hue. A rocky, but creamy purple mousse upon pouring and a fine persistent bead.
A deeply scented nose of potpourri, bread dough, blackberries, pistachio nuts and blood orange. Layered and complex.
A rich and opulent mouthfeel with a creamy effervescence. The dark blue and plum flavours are held by silky tannins and an orange rind tang at the finish.

 

 

Best's Great Western Riesling 2018

Very pale straw with green and silver hints.
Lifted and intense aromatics of musk, honeysuckle, kaffir lime leaf and crushed rock.
Fine and fragrant with a steely acidity that drives the palate. The fruit weight smooths the edges and a powdery lime rind and river stone minerality holds everything in place for a long finish.

 

 

Best's Great Western Rosé 2018

Very pale salmon pink, with a clear rose hue.
A perfumed nose of tea roses, peaches, wild strawberries and mountain streams on a spring day.
Soft and rounded stone fruit and berry flavours with a creamy, but clean and dry finish.