Following a visit to France where he studied the ancient pastoral practices of breeding the world's best chickens, Adam Marks gained the inspiration to create great Australian wines in the very same manner, adopting an artisanal approach to production, employing traditional, age old methods. Coq Noir is the flagship Shiraz by one of Victoria's most adroit, small batch producers. An opulent effort vinified from parcels of the most intense fruit, bottled without fining or filtration, which may deposit a harmless sediment, decanting is a must.

Shiraz is picked from two blocks of a distinguished old Heathcote vineyard. Gently crushed fruit and a parcel of whole bunches are treated to a wild, indigenous yeast vinification in traditional open fermenters. A course of hand plunges and pumpovers extract deep colour and optimal tannins, followed by transfer to a luxuriously high proportion of new Francois Freres French oak hogsheads. Upon completion of malolactic, the wine is gravity fed to barrel for a year's maturation and minimal filtration.