Background:
Winery & Vineyard - Keith Tulloch is a fourth generation Hunter Valley Winemaker, so the soils of Pokolbin and the wines of the Hunter Valley run deep in his blood. Keith is a qualified Winemaker, a Wine Judge, and Wine Consultant. In 1997 Keith began his own company, and produces wines under his own label focussing only on the traditional Hunter Valley varieties - Semillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, and more recently. Cabernet Sauvignon - sourcing grapes from only the best vineyard sites. These wines are hand-made with meticulous care, and epitomise the best qualities of Hunter Valley wine. All wines released have the style, balance, structure and integrity necessary for graceful maturation and cellaring. Winery production is very limited, with a combined output of only 12000 dozen per year.

The “Kester” name has a special significance to me. The “dynasty” of Tulloch in Pokolbin began when JY Tulloch (my Great-Grandfather) married Florence Kester, so I am honouring the materfamilias. Also, although I am not Keith Tulloch II, I am the second Keith Tulloch winemaker. The first (my Great-Uncle) was named Keith Kester Tulloch.

Harvest - This is a surprisingly generous wine from the difficult 2001 Hunter Vintage, and proves (once more) that old-vine resources are the most valuable. These 80+ year old vines achieve only miniscule yields, but, regardless of Vintage conditions, they have produced the flavour density, fruit power, and ripe tannins necessary for the "Kester" label.

Fermentation and Aging - This wine has been wood aged for 20 months in 50% Seguin Moreau and 50% Dargaud & Jaegle barrels, 50% new and 50% one year old, to proffer a soft, generous undercurrent of cedary spice. Best drinking 2006 – 2016

Winemaker's Notes - The Kester Shiraz is more than “just” a Hunter Valley wine. My focus with Shiraz has been deeply influenced by a love of Rhone Valley Shiraz wines, in particular the great Hermitages of Jaboulet. I worked with Jaboulet in France for the 1996 Vintage, and have adapted my Shiraz winemaking in the Hunter Valley to gain more fruit power and greater overall wine personality. The result is a profusion of powerful aromas and flavours: dense plum and currant fruits with savoury/spicy power, hints of earth and spice, and great lingering complex finish of ripe briar-berry and silky smooth tannin.

2001 Vintage - Super-ripe maturity is not essential for optimum flavour, but the 2001 achieved both with an excellent 14 Beaume at harvest and great flavour at the same time. The 2001 "Kester" signatures are quite perfumed and savoury as well, perhaps showing more Rhoneish signature than in previous Vintages, whilst also achieving the generous velvety fruit power and great palate length that are the hallmarks of this label. As usual, the 2001 was co-fermented with 3% Viognier, and it is possibly a reflection of the milder Vintage that this "Kester" shows more of its alluring plushness.

Accolades: James Halliday Rated : 92 points (Australian Wine companion 2004 Edition)“Medium red-purple : the moderately intense bouquet has distinctly regional savory spice, hay and straw aromas, but on the palate blackberry and plum fruit comes through strongly, with very fine, soft tannins; delicious texture.”

Tyson Seltzer www.winepress.com.au "I love savoury complexity, like La Chapelle from the Rhone Valley - earthy, spicy and savoury," Keith Tulloch told me when he served this wine at his Hunter Valley cellar door. The wine certainly fits that mould: Capsicum, leather, earth, cooked vegetables and oodles of savoury complexity. Behind all that it's got dark berry/plum fruit, tight acidity, fine tannins and a very long finish. Three percent viognier is fully integrated. Very good wine. Best drinking around 2005-2009”. 91 points. June 2005

Tasting Notes:
Colour:	A vibrant and medium-deep purple red
Nose/Aromas:	Earthy, spicy and savoury to the nose with a moderately intense bouquet that also displays capsicum, leather, hay and straw aromas
Palete:	On the palate blackberry and plum fruit comes through strongly, with very fine, soft tannins; delicious texture and a very long finish.
Acidity:	Medium & tightly controlled	Wine Region:		Hunter Valley , Australia
Alcohol:	14.0%	Winery/Vineyard:		Keith Tulloch Wine
Ph:		Cellar until:		2016
Residual Sugar:	Dry
Tannins:		Availability:		Australia, UK & USA
Cepage:	Old Vine Shiraz - 97%; Viognier - 3%	Price Range: (per btl)		US$35 - $58
Oak:	Yes	Production:		450 cases
Best Served with:	Red meat of any description as well as wild game and strong cheeses
Your thoughts:
"WOW! Now that is a great wine. It has been a long time since I have had a Shiraz as good as this. I just want to sip it all night" ..... JAJ, USA. Oct 2010