Massena is a Barossa Valley label guided by the ‘safe as houses’ hands of Dan Standish. It is a responsible for a burgeoning portfolio of interesting and authentic Barossa Valley wines. Of late, the Georgian grape, Saperavi and Madiran’s Tannat have joined the line up.
One of the original wines in the Massena line-up is the Eleventh Hour Shiraz. Rumour has it that the vineyard that is responsible for this wine was to be grubbed up. Originally, it had been a fruit source for Penfolds Koonunga Hill, but it was no longer needed. Fear not, Dan Standish and his team rode in at the ‘eleventh hour’ to save the day.
Massena Eleventh Hour Shiraz is Barossa to the core, with intense blackberry and plum fruit, hints of tar and exotic Asian spices. It’s a full bodied, but well balanced wine, no sense of anything being overdone. The 2001 release is still a brooding creature, deep crimson in colour. Although the tannins have melted and the wine is delivering plenty of pleasure now, it should be capable of ageing for several more years.
2001 ELEVENTH HOUR SHIRAZ
Producer: Massena
Variety: Syrah/Shiraz
Vintage: 2001
Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
ABV: 14.0%
Price: N/a
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 29 September 2011
Tasting Note:
Intense nose of liqueur plums and cherries, blackberries, tar and smouldering coal – sensational. Rich and full bodied, seamless soft tannins, quite glossy in texture. Intense plum, blackberry and briar fruit leading to tar and roast Asian spices. Barossa in a bottle! Lots going on here.
Score: 17.5/20
One of the original wines in the Massena line-up is the Eleventh Hour Shiraz. Rumour has it that the vineyard that is responsible for this wine was to be grubbed up. Originally, it had been a fruit source for Penfolds Koonunga Hill, but it was no longer needed. Fear not, Dan Standish and his team rode in at the ‘eleventh hour’ to save the day.
Massena Eleventh Hour Shiraz is Barossa to the core, with intense blackberry and plum fruit, hints of tar and exotic Asian spices. It’s a full bodied, but well balanced wine, no sense of anything being overdone. The 2001 release is still a brooding creature, deep crimson in colour. Although the tannins have melted and the wine is delivering plenty of pleasure now, it should be capable of ageing for several more years.
2001 ELEVENTH HOUR SHIRAZProducer: Massena
Variety: Syrah/Shiraz
Vintage: 2001
Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
ABV: 14.0%
Price: N/a
Closure: Cork
Format: 750ml
Date tasted: 29 September 2011
Tasting Note:
Intense nose of liqueur plums and cherries, blackberries, tar and smouldering coal – sensational. Rich and full bodied, seamless soft tannins, quite glossy in texture. Intense plum, blackberry and briar fruit leading to tar and roast Asian spices. Barossa in a bottle! Lots going on here.
Score: 17.5/20
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