Cooter & Cooter 'Almond Block' Shiraz 2023
The Wine
97% Shiraz (planted 1996) and 3% Grenache (planted 1945). Hand-picked in mid-late February and fermented with indigenous yeast in open top fermenters, with 12% whole bunch. The Shiraz spent a total of 14 days on skins. While the Grenache (3%) spent 11 days on skins, naturally beginning fermentation on day 3. Pressed together into seasoned puncheons. Matured in 100% 4-year-old French oak for 8 months. Blended just prior to bottling. No fining.
Certified Organic/Biodynamic
93 Pts Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion 'As usual, from two small parcels on classic red clay over limestone, fermented separately and coolly, with some pressings blended back when assembled. This is all about purity of expression, refined and racy, but without austerity. Lemon leaves, green apple, lime pith and a stony minerality. It’s pretty classic stuff, but there’s typically much thought given to texture and acid harmony in this wine, and so too here.’
The Details
Variety - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - South Australia
Sub Region - McLaren Vale
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Cooter & Cooter is a family business and the logo reflects the connection between the generations of winemakers. The cursive script has been used by various Cooter businesses since 1847.
In 1992 Colin Cooter created Lengs & Cooter with Karel Lengs and in 2012 Colin’s son James established Cooter & Cooter with his wife Kimberly. A winemaker herself, Kimberly began learning her craft under the tutelage of her father, veteran McLaren Vale winemaker Walter Clappis. Walter is best known for his much celebrated time running Ingoldby Wines and more recently, The Hedonist Wines.
In 2005 James and Kimberly spent a year working in California’s Sonoma Valley then, invigorated by their experience, they returned to Australia to continue making wine at The Hedonist. Finally in 2012, now with over 20 vintages between them, they purchased their own vineyard at Whites Valley near Willunga in McLaren Vale. The vineyard, with views to the coast just a few kilometres away, features Grenache vines planted in the 1950s, along with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 1996.
