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It was a matrimony between an American biochemist and the founder of Margaret River Devils Lair, that set the scene for one of the nation's most illustrious estates. A member of the Top 1OO Wineries of World, Giant Steps were established 1997, with a view to assembling an elite range of limited release Yarra Valley vintages. Crafted from the fruit of superior sites, some yielding just a few hundred cases each year, these are exclusive editions from bespoke parcels of elite terroir, bearing the curiously cryptic monikers of precious blocks of vine, Gruyere Farm, Applejack and Wombat Creek. Fashioned for aficianados of the euro style, defined by their winsome fruit and graceful tannins, the Giant Steps single vineyard range are all distinct for their expression of place, each articulate of a unique soil and influence of clime... Big wines from little vineyards»

Blackjack Block 6 Shiraz CONFIRM VINTAGE

Shiraz Bendigo Victoria
Blackjack has claimed the eminent M.Chapoutier Trophy for Best Shiraz at the prestigious Le Concours des Vinson on no fewer than three occasions. Block 6 is a superior parcel of distinguished vines, renowned within the Bendigo district for producing a very high quality, intensely fruit driven Shiraz. Whilst directly adjacent to the original Blackjack plantings, Block 6 features a unique soil profile and a different clone. Block 6 always displays savoury Rhone structure and style, as opposed to the identifiably Aussie genre of Shiraz produced by Blackjack Vineyard.
Available in cartons of six
Case of 6
$269.50
Blackjack are just south of Bendigo, on an easterly slope, in the old fruit growing district of Harcourt Valley at the foothills of Mt. Alexander. The microclimate of this small boutique winery is considerably cooler than other vineyards, ablessed by Indian summers, cool nights and warm clear days, allowing the grapes to slowly ripen. Soils are very old, unfertile granites, although part of Block 6 is on richer sandstone gravels. The hand husbanded, hand picked vines on Block 6 were planted in 1998 and are a different clone to the original Shiraz stock. Vinified in traditional open fermenters, hand plunged and aged in French oak barriques for twenty two months, bottled unfined after minimal filtration.
Ruby red, purple hues. Dark berry and cherry aromas, black currants, nutmeg and mixed spice, complex festive pudding notes. In grand central Victorian styling, the palate shows abundant spice and pepper as well as fully ripe berry fruits, lovely rounded mouthfeel and texture, subtle oak in support. Superb balance of crisp peppery acids and fine oak tannins, a very persistent, remarkably long and lingering finish.
Blackjack
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Blackjack
BlackJack Vineyards is situated on the granitic soil of the Harcourt Valley in the Bendigo Wine Region of Central Victoria

BlackJack was the name given to an American sailor who, during the goldrush era of the1850s jumped ship and found his way to the Castlemaine goldfields. A road adjacent to BlackJack Vineyards still bears his name. Perhaps following a similar dream but in search of liquid gold, the McKenzie and Pollock families planted their first vines in 1988. Further planting in 1989 completed the initial four-hectare vineyard development of mainly Shiraz and Cabernet with a small area of Merlot.

Blackjack

BlackJack vineyards released its first wine in November 1994 and in the short intervening period has established an enviable reputation for producing fine and generous red wine. It is the Blackjack philosophy to produce consistent high quality red wines that reflect the vineyard and vintage variations. Beautiful in every season, Blackjack Vineyards offer a friendly welcome, a chance to taste some excellent full-bodied reds and talk about the joys and despairs of grape growing and winemaking in historic Central Victoria.

Each vintage, BlackJack Wines produces an exciting and highly acclaimed portfolio of dry red tablewines. Visitors to the winery now see a hillside planted with rows and rows of well-tended vines. Beautiful in every season, Blackjack Vineyards offer a friendly welcome, a chance to taste some excellent full-bodied reds and talk about the joys and despairs of grape growing and winemaking in historic Central Victoria. Over a dozen vintages of BlackJack Shiraz have been released, a classic Australian shiraz style that's big, bold, flavoursome and with the potential to develop in the cellar for at least a decade.

The relatively recent addition of the Block 6 Shiraz to the Blackjack range made an immediate impact at the 2004 Royal Melbourne Wine Show, winning the Premier's Trophy for best Victorian wine of the show, and the Winery Supplies Trophy for best shiraz in the open classes. The 2003 vintage won the top gold medal in its class at the same show. Block 6 is adjacent to the original shiraz plantings but produces quite a different style of wine, more savoury than sweet, and aptly described by some critics as being much more Rhone-like.

Blackjack

BlackJack Cabernet Merlot is made in traditional open fermenters, then aged in small oak barrels for nearly two years, this medium-weighted and complex dry red shows hallmark varietal flavours of mint, blackberry and cassis. BlackJack Chortle's Edge Shiraz can be best described as a Monday-to-Thursday wine, a delightful medium-bodied, flavoursome shiraz made for easy everyday drinking. While there is some lovely oak in the background, it is essentially a fruit-driven style of red with predominantly cherry and plum flavours.

James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion has elevated BlackJack Wines to the maximum five-star rating, reflecting "An outstanding winery capable of producing wines of the highest calibre". The rating places BlackJack among the best four producers in the Bendigo district and in the top 8.5 per cent Australia-wide. Reviewing individual wines, he awarded Blackjack Shiraz and Block 6 Shiraz with the maximum rating of five glasses, outstanding wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree. Campbell Matttinson writes of BlackJack, "Last year's was a beauty and so too is this. Wow, this is terrific at any price. Sweet coconut and mint rises over savoury , peppery plums, the savouriness and sweetness clubbing together into a seriously seductive package!"

BlackJack proprietors and winemakers, Ian MacKenzie and Ken Pollock, are pleased and proud each and every vintage to release their range of reds, "We sincerely believe that all wines show excellent varietal and regional character. At the end of the day, or vintage, the overall character of the wine is essentially determined by the unique combination of the local environment and seasonal climatic variations. Our philosophy at Blackjack Vineyards is not to interfere with this natural process too much. In a sense, to let the grapes, the vintage, talk."

Blackjack