The Domaine Chandon Heathcote Shiraz shows excellent regional and varietal character. The aroma has an abundance of rich and powerful dark cherry and plum fruit as well as cinnamon, black spices and liquorish. These fruits are concentrated and dense on the palate with hints of vanilla bean and dark chocolate adding complexity. The subtly structured tannins provide a velvety texture and a silky persistent finish.

Fruit for Domaine Chandon’s Heathcote Shiraz was primarily sourced from the Colbinabbin Vineyard in the heart of the Heathcote wine region. The vines grow in deep, 500 million year old Cambrian soils of the Mount Camel Range. These rich soils are characterised by their deep red colour and proliferation of buckshot gravel and greenstone rock. The easterly aspect of the Colbinabbin Vineyard moderates the afternoon heat, providing even conditions throughout the ripening season.

Individual parcels were destemmed, crushed, chilled and cold-soaked for three days prior to fermentation to gently extract colour and flavour from the skins. During fermentation, various techniques were used including regular pumpovers and cap-plunging to build the body of the wine. At the conclusion of the primary fermentation individual batches were pressed and settled in stainless steel tanks before running to oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place. French barriques comprised the majority of the oak used, with approximately 15% being new oak and the remainder of the barrels being one and two years old. After approximately 18 months in oak the individual vineyard parcels were assessed, blended and filtered before bottling.