If there is one producer that embodies what most of us would come to expect from the Barossa Valley, then Greenock Creek is it. That is not to say that there aren’t other styles and regional interpretations, but for wines of scale, this has to be the benchmark address. Located on the western edge of the Barossa Valley, with vineyards in Marananga, Moppa and Seppeltsfield. With dry, almost arid conditions and a variety of soil types, the vines are naturally low yielding, with small bunches and tiny berries.
Single vineyards
Outside of the Barossa there is little known about the sub regions and their single vineyards. Currently, like the rest of Australia, there is no vineyard classification, and the region as a whole has not promoted the differences between say a Moppa and Marananga shiraz to any great degree. All of Greenock Creek’s wines are single vineyards, Roennfeldt being the most famous. It is well worth exploring the very real differences of sub region and vineyard.
Size and presence
All wines are made similarly, with up to two years in American oak. Oak age varies, depending on the concentration and power of the fruit. The grapes are picked very ripe, destemmed and placed in open top fermenters without being crushed. Ferments are not to exceed 22 degrees and run for two weeks or so, a long time for such a warm region. The wines are certainly more refined than in the past, but have lost none of their size or presence.
Big and bold
The Greenock Creek style is one of bountiful, corseted size. You have to like ’em big, there’s no getting around it. Very ripe dark fruit, hedonistic, opulent and palate staining flavour. Fine grained and lightly toasted American oak provides the framework Wood notes are pronounced; sweet vanilla, cinnamon and coffee notes. The corset of oak is pulled tight, the more powerful the wine, the tighter it gets. Whole berry fermentation is becoming more common in Australia, particularly for aromatic reds such as grenache and pinot noir. This enhances aromas, colours and maximises flavour, without extracting chewy tannins. Greenock Creek wines have gentle purring tannins and soft acidity and, as they age, a mutiny of bountiful fruit, baking spices, cigar box and polished leather.
Tasting Notes:
Greenock Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019
From a variety of sources across the Barossa Valley and utterly unmistakeable as such. Very dark indeed, with a compote of black fruits, plum, savoury spices and black olive. Immense and impenetrable, so we decanted it and left it for an hour. Wow, beautiful and open, softly structured and despite its size, piquant and bright. Swirling fruit, unravelling with ease, smooth and finishing with coffee ground grit. Unbelievable value on offer.
Greenock Creek Third Estate Shiraz 2020
Aromas of cherry, violet, plum, chocolate and woody notes. Intense and full bodied, a real attack of flavour. Enveloping with red fruits, the most in this lineup, blackberry, mulberry, chocolate, vanilla, fennel and wood char. Round in shape, fleshy and driven with lively acidity and lacey, chalky tannins. For all its size, this is remarkably elegant, poised and balanced. Many, many years of pleasure ahead.
Greenock Creek Block 3 Shiraz 2020
From a single vineyard in the Moppa sub-region, north facing and gently sloped. The grapes are hand harvested from only the upper sections of the vineyard, where the soils are lighter and full of ironstone. Intense aromatics of cherry, plum, Middle Eastern spices, black olive, rose petals and dark chocolate. High toned fruits combine with briary notes, dried herbs, campfire, wood spice and minerals. Full bodied and thrusting, loads of acidity really driving the palate and squeezed firm tannins. Elegant hedonism. Incredible value for money, showing a cooler side of this great producer.
Greenock Creek Fifteen Claims Shiraz 2019
Just 15 rows of dry grown vines from a southeast facing block in Moppa. Moppa’s rich sturdiness is on full display. Immense, concentrated, deep and luxurious. Impenetrable colour, dark fruits, black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice, cut flowers and ferrous notes. Massive palate, massive. Such a rich glide through the mouth, a purring Rolls Royce. Embellished with fine quality French Oak, corseting, and at this early stage, I would definitely recommend a decant. Brooding, rumbling power, a statement of intent, and I think one for those who would not normally like wines of this size. Impeccably balanced and very long in the mouth. Very focused, round in shape, yet structurally linear. Very fine wine.
Greenock Creek Jaensch Block Shiraz 2019
From two vineyards adjacent to each other on a high ridge in Moppa. The soils are rich, with quartz, ironstone and clay, but the site is one of the highest in the Barossa Valley, making for an intriguing blend of Moppa power and almost Eden Valley’s high toned freshness. Plum, black cherry, blueberry, cassis, bitter chocolate and violets. Super concentration and focus, round in shape and rich. Has the hedonism of a chocolate cake mix, rich flavours, but not heavy. Fine chalky tannins, in the old days they would have been chewy, but this is so buoyant and tingling with freshness. One to show your overseas friends and family.
Greenock Creek Moppa Grenache 2021
From an east facing vineyard in the upper reaches of Moppa. The aspect is key here, as the vineyard doesn’t get baked by the afternoon sun, and is correspondingly fine. Classic grenache aromatics in the Barossan vernacular. Jubey red fruits, rosewater, Middle Eastern spices and hints of wood. Medium bodied, yes it’s hard to believe, round in shape and full of flavour. Very gentle in its way, the soft acidity providing a lovely frame and the tannins are pumice-like and soft. Super easy drinking, substantial and very rewarding.
Greenock Creek Alices Shiraz 2019
Perhaps the emblematic wine of the estate, showcasing the luxurious hedonistic potential of the Barossa Valley. Impenetrable colour, with brooding aromatics of blackberry, dark plum, black cherry, chocolate, cigar box and violets. Voluminous and full bodied, subtle in a way with some teasing tertiary notes of spice, leather and minerals. I find the tannins quite soft, just holding the fruit in check, which threatens to burst out of its corset. Apart from the Barossa Valley shiraz, the Alices is the most approachable in youth. Ample, beautiful.
