Rolf Binder Bulls Blood Shiraz Mataro 2015 1.5L (cork)

The Hungarian ‘Bikaver’ wine translates to ‘Bulls Blood’ and dates back to the 1500’s when the Hungarians were fighting the Turks. It was a wine for strength in battle! The first Veritas ‘Bulls Blood’ was produced in 1967 by R. H. Binder and the label remains similar today. It has become an Australian ‘cult’ wine and one that collectors still enjoy.

VINTAGE:
Things started well for 2015 with above average early winter rains. Spring was drier and warmer than average and vines got away to a good healthy start. A nice amount of rain fell in January which kept vines healthy and grapes ripening. In fact the ripening conditions were perfect, and February did nothing to stop the ripening or hinder quality, being warm to hot during the day, cool at night and
almost completely dry. Most of the vintage was harvested by the end of March. 2015 could well go down as another really great Barossa Valley vintage.

The winemaking:
Both hand pruned and hand picked, the Bulls Blood is fermented in open fermenters with pump overs twice daily, resulting in a seven day fermentation process. This results in maximum flavour, colour and tannin extraction with both the hot ferment and pumping over stabilising tannin structure. At the end of fermentation on skins the juice is drained off. The remaining skins still contain
a large amount of fermenting juice and due to the contact with the ripe skins contain wonderful, rich flavours. The skins are gently pressed. The final pressure on the cake is soft, giving an almost gentle ‘basket press’ effect. After pressing, the wine is fermented to dryness, racked and placed in American and French oak puncheons, comprising of 80% new oak.

The profile:
Mulled spicy fruit, obvious oak that is mellow and rounded, rich chocolates that are subdued. Displays a mellow richness that is classy and definitive. The immediate evidence of weight, texture and spice launch the palate. The richness that leads onto the palate is wonderful; showing exotic spice, stone fruit, mulberries and hints of dark chocolate. The mid palate builds immediately with depth, texture and richluscious tannins emerging. The back palate is solid, strong showing some wild
berries, coating the mouth with great length and persistent flavours. The wine has powerful mouth filling weight and finishes with clear, round and soft but evident tannins that are a perfect blend of oak and fruit.

CELLARING:
Bull’s Blood is a wine that has been popular amongst collectors for many years. Although the wine is quite approachable now, it will be shining in 5-10 years and drinking lovely as an aged wine until 2033.