2020 SHIRAZ  BAROSSA VALLEY, SA  VINEYARD  Basileus is a Greek term that has signified various types of Monarchs throughout history.  In the English speaking world, it has most widely been understood to mean ‘King’. Shiraz is  the King of red grapes in Australia and the Barossa Valley is world renowned as the King of  Australia’s Shiraz regions.  This wine has been carefully crafted from grapes grown predominantly in a single vineyard  in the Stockwell area to the north of the region blended with smaller parcels from Bethany  in the south and Angaston to the east, Basileus really is a taste of the best of the Barossa.  The 2019 Barossa Valley vintage is regarded as a standout with very high quality but well  below average yields.  The growing season started dry and continued that way throughout with budburst delayed  until early September. The region was hit by 2 frost events – one early on in September and  another in early November, if the frosts and dry conditions were not enough, the flowering  period was windy and unsettled, and a hailstorm on 22 November topped it all off. These  events conspired to greatly reduce the vines eventual yield.  The summer months of December and January experienced above average maximum   temperatures but in the critical month of February temperatures cooled allowing the   flavour and phenological ripening to keep up with the sugar development. This cooler  month was the saving of many vineyards, the timing perfect for ripening their smaller crops  and by the end of March almost all the Barossa Valley grapes were harvested – one of the  earliest on record. The good news is that flavours and colours in Shiraz and overall quality is  exceptional.  WINEMAKING  Upon arriving at our 110-year-old winery the grapes were gently de-stemmed and   fermentation in small open fermenters was initiated by the indigenous yeasts of the winery.  The must was carefully plunged and pumped over twice daily to coax colour and flavour  from the skins. Once dry the wine was basket-pressed to French oak to patiently mature  and meld the multitude of flavours and aromas. The resultant wine reflects our philosophy  of letting the Barossa Valley soils and environment express themselves through the wine. Intense blue/black with magenta hues.  Exotic spice, licorice, blackberry and dark plum.  Soft and succulent on the palate with plum and blackberry   spice and well considered French oak with and a long soft finish.  CELLAR POTENTIAL 10+ years.  HAVE IT WITH ...  Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks in red wine sauce or Vegetarian Lasagne