2019 Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz

Kaesler's vineyards are located around the village of Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley and have been planted since 1893. After a long period of working in France and South Africa, successful winemaker Reid Bosward returned to the Barossa in 1999 to work there with a number of partners. Kaesler to take over. The biggest temptation for this acquisition was the opportunity to work with an unprecedented amount of very old vineyards. All vineyards are cultivated according to a 'sustainable viticulture' program. The old vines produce extremely powerful and concentrated wines characteristic of the region. It is striking that the style of the wines becomes more refined with age. This balance between power, concentration, freshness and elegance is perfectly reflected in Laesler's top model with the beautiful Shiraz called 'The Old Bastard'.

The Kaesler 'Old Bastard' Barossa Shiraz is perhaps one of Australia's most highly regarded wines. The name refers to a small number of 'old bastards' - gnarled old 'bush vines' planted in 1893, which form the heart of the 'Kaesler' brand. With a Langton's 'Outstanding' rating and consistently rated as a benchmark Barossa Shiraz, The Old Bastard is highly sought after by wine lovers and collectors worldwide. The vinification process is a closely guarded secret with a number of innovative techniques not previously used in Australia. But what can be said is that the fully manual harvest starts just before sunrise, when there is just enough light to get a beautiful rainbow effect from the dew drops on the leaves and grapes. Matured in 35% new French oak barrels and 65% in 1 year old French oak barrels.

The Old Bastard has an expressive nose with aromas of ripe red fruit (raspberries), black fruit, blackberries, blackcurrants. Furthermore, complex aromas of anise, nutmeg, chocolate and coffee, with a clear influence of partly new oak. The wine has a juicy structure with firm but silky tannins, a full body and an extremely long aftertaste.