From the home of the 2007 Jimmy Watson, prior vintages of School Block have claimed gold medals at the London International and UK Sunday Times. A deluxe assembly of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot from three Scarpantoni vineyards, each with a unique terroir and mesoclime. One of McLaren Vale's more artisanal blended reds, a wine of ripe currant and plum flavours, interwoven with attractive cedary oak. School Block has earned a stellar reputation with McLaren Vale enthusiasts, it's seamless integration has made the wine a modern classic.
Mostly Shiraz, a third of Cabernet, the balance in Merlot. Grapes are picked purely on the basis of flavour profile and fermented in six to eight tonne batches. Each block of fruit is pressed and kept separate for maturation, every parcel of wine is tested to determine barrel type ranging from new, to five year old French and American oak hogsheads. Components are individually processed and aged in barrel for twelve months, achieving a soft and supple style that oozes with rich fruit and hints of toasty oak. After a year in barrel, the rigorous task of assemblage is undertaken over the course of several weeks, more than twenty different parcels are assessed to determine the final School Block.
TASTING NOTESDark in colour. An intense bouquet of blackcurrant and spice with enticing hints of cherries and violet. Rich black fruits on the nose and palate, plenty of plums, licks of chocolate, pepper and dried aromatic spice. The palate is soft and supple with rich berry fruit flavours seamlessly supported by fine tannins leading to a lingering finish.