Four In Hand Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Description

Four in Hand Shiraz is a Barossa Valley wine made by wine industry Chris Hancock for Robert Oatley Vineyards. Robert Oatley Vineyards was created by Australian wine legend, the late, Bob Oatley in 2006, and was most famous for founding Rosemount Estate. Bob’s son Sandy Oatley took over the running of the business following his father’s death in January 2016. Chris Hancock has been making wine with Bob Oatley since 1976 and is the also the Deputy Executive Chairman. He also worked at Penfolds under Max Schubert and eventually was responsible for making 5 of the early vintages of Penfolds Grange. Bob Oatley was a Four-In-Hand coach driver, a method of coach-driving whereby the driver coudl control all four horse with the reins rigged in one hand. This technique took years to master and Four In Hand Shiraz is an homage to all the years that Chris Hancock has been learning about and making wine, another process that takes years to master. Four In Hand Shiraz is a result of the idiom practice makes perfect.

The fruit for the Four in Hand Shiraz is harvested from vineyards across the Barossa (including Barossa and Eden Valleys). The grapes are fermented on the skins for 7 to 12 days. After fermentation the wine is gently oaked with 15% in new and the rest in older, used French oak for around 6 months.