Peel shiraz impresses
A panel of international judges has crowned Peel Estate Wines’ 2006 Vintage Shiraz the best drop at the 2012 Interwine International Wine and Spirits Challenge.
The Karnup winery won Best Red Wine for its 2006 Peel Estate Old Vine Shiraz at the awards in China last week.
Winery owner Will Nairn, who planted the vines 40 years ago, said it was an honour to have his wine recognised on the international stage.
“WA has never got the recognition for its shiraz as it has for its cabernet,” he said.
“I’ve always grown it right from the start and the vines here are now 40 years old.
“Outside the Swan Valley they are the oldest in WA.”
Mr Nairn said limestone-based country, which the vines at Peel grew in, were renowned for bringing out some of the best flavours and texture in the grapes.
He said it was exciting to finally release the 2006 shiraz after a six-year process.
Winemaker Mark Morton’s first year at the Peel winery was the same year the award-winning shiraz was made. With more than 20 years of winemaking experience, he said a point of difference at Peel Estate Wines was it stuck to a trusted formula when making their wine.
“You’ve got to believe in the style you make and not shift with market trends and that’s I think, as a winemaker, what Australia has done,” he said.
“It shifts every time there is a trend and our wines are becoming too acidic and fruit-driven.”
The winery produced 500 cases of the 2006 shiraz and Mr Nairn said he expected to export 40 per cent of the vintage to China.
