Bull Lane Heathcote Shiraz 2021

The Bull Lane Wine Company was started by Simon Osicka and Alison Phillips in 2011, partners in wine and life. Simon who has made wine both in Australia as well as France, Germany, Italy and Canada. Alison has extensive Viticultural experience both in Australia and the United States. They moved to Victoria in 2010 whenSimon started working with his father at Paul Osicka Wines, and they also started a family.

Previously Simon had been Chief Red Winemaker for the Hardy's Group and worked harvest at the prestigious Northern Rhone Valley Producer - Domaine J.L. Chave. Bull Lane was an opportunity to produce new wines not attached to the family business. The wines have all been from specific patches from single vineyards. They have worked withnthe growers to optimise potential and the wines have been made and bottled at the family estate utilising gentle handling and processing. So far Shiraz, Marsanne and Nebbiolo have been produced. The aim is to make complex, interesting single vineyard wines that reflect where they come from and to offer value.

Sourced from 8 rows half way up the hill on a vineyard located on the eastern slope of the Mt. Camel Range,north of Heathcote. That part of the vineyard has shallower red clay soils, containing a lot of buckshot gravel, that naturally yields less fruit. This leads to greater concentration, the vineyard is also managed with hand pruning, shoot thinning, crop thinning and hand picking to optimize its quality. The fruit receives the same care and attention in the cellar as the Osicka wines. We included 95 % whole bunches in one ferment (about 10 % whole bunches across the batch). This aided in bringing layers of complexity as well as a savory textural element to the wine.

The tasting notes almost read verbatim to last year’s release. Perfumed nose of bright red fruits, such as lifted cherries. Warm pepper and spices. Underneath is complex charcuterie and earthy characters that tilt their cap to some of the wines from the Northern Rhone Valley. The palate has a creaminess of texture but finishes crisp with bright fruit characters. Medium bodied, complex and has a real freshness.