“When God invented Shiraz, he did so with the Barossa in mind.” That’s a quote from acclaimed Aussie winemaker Peter Lehmann, which introduced their first Stonewell Shiraz in 1987. It was released at a time of great uncertainty as local grape growers were struggling to make ends meet. Striving for concentrated and low-yielding fruit of the best quality—aka ‘little black jewels’—Lehmann exclusively sourced local grapes whilst breathing new life into the community. He also kicked off 30 years of iconic vintages, leading to the release of the new 2017 Stonewell Shiraz.
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Stonewell 30 Years of Vintages
According to legend, the first Shiraz cuttings arrived in Australia by way of the Rhone Valley in France around the turn of the 19th century. To this day, the Barossa is home to Shiraz vines that were planted as early as the mid-1840s. When creating each Stonewell release, Peter Lehmann chooses from amongst a small selection of lasting vineyards, the oldest of which was planted in 1885.
Only the most intensely-flavoured fruit is harvested for production, spending 18 months in French oak hogsheads after pressing and clarification. Famously, the winemaker holds each release for five years before offering it to the public, so as to avoid the ‘bean counters’ and allow for optimum aging.
2017 Stonewell Shiraz
A 30-year trail of iconic Barossa vintages brings us to the latest release from Peter Lehmann. Full-bodied with deep colour and a classic dark fruit profile, the new 2017 Stonewell Shiraz pairs beautifully with meat dishes like roast beef along with bold cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, aged Cheddar, or Grana Padano.
The wine highlights both the unique pedigree of Stonewell Shiraz vineyards as well as the winemaker’s expert knowledge of sourcing and production, hence the impressive score of 97 points from Halliday Wine Companion. Enjoy it now or cellar it under optimum conditions until 2046.
Cellaring Tips
Should you score a bottle of Peter Lehmann’s new 2017 Stonewell Shiraz, you might be tempted to consume this glorious wine as soon as possible (and we certainly wouldn’t blame you). Or perhaps you’d prefer to store it under optimum conditions and then crack it open for a special occasion, being sure to do so before 2046. Here are some quick cellaring tips:
- Keep the wine stored in a cooler (but not too cool) climate with an ideal temperature range of 7 to 18 degrees Celsius.
- Make sure the temperature stays relatively consistent and doesn’t swing to extremes.
- Store the wine in an area where it’s not exposed to light (especially direct sunlight).
- Try to maintain humidity levels between 50 and 80 per cent.
- Position the bottle sideways to prevent the cork from drying out.
If you don’t have a full-blown wine cellar, keep the wine stored in a dark and enclosed space away from extreme temperature sources such as a water heater, freezer, or clothes dryer. And when it comes to dedicated wine storage coolers, make sure it’s one that maintains steady temperature control and provides convenient access, amongst other things.
Whether you enjoy it now or somewhere down the road, the new Peter Lehmann 2017 Stonewell Shiraz will deliver a fruit-forward feast for the senses. Behold the kind of robust flavour that only the finest grapes and craftsmanship techniques can cultivate. Bottles are available at all good liquor stores nationwide at a suggested retail price of $100. Here’s to 30 years of iconic vintages!
