Description
Established in 1998, Shadowfax is a boutique winery located just 30 minutes from Melbourne in the heart of Werribee Park.
Dedicated to creating high-quality and handcrafted wines, Shadowfax is renowned for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Shiraz, as well as a selection of highly limited, single-vineyard wines.
The winery takes its name from J.R.R.
Tolkien’s classic, The Lord of the Rings, where Shadowfax was chief among horses.
Contemporary in design and function, Shadowfax’s unique architecture reflects an attempt to create a harmony between the winery and its natural surroundings.
Designed by award-winning architects Wood Marsh, the winery’s rusted sheet metal exterior and terracotta interior evoke the best of Australian wine heritage.
At Shadowfax, the team is passionate about allowing each vineyard site to express its unique character, with the grapes grown reflecting the site and telling their own story.
The vineyards are grown depending on their own requests, with the team always listening and tasting to ensure the vineyard’s needs and wants are met.
Shadowfax is not afraid of new ideas, experimentation, trials and tribulations, all while having fun doing so.
The vineyard is allowed to do the talking, using the wine glass as its stage.
Shadowfax is a winery that truly cares about the land and the wines it produces, resulting in some of the most exceptional wines in the region.
Shadowfax Wines is a premium winery with vineyards located in some of the most unique and sought-after regions in Australia.
The Little Hampton single vineyard site near Trentham sits at 730m above sea level, making it one of the coolest in the Macedon Ranges.
The deep red volcanic loams over hard basalt outcrops give Little Hampton a unique balance between aromatics and power, producing exceptional fruit, particularly Pinot Noir, which forms the flagship Little Hampton Pinot Noir.
Other vineyards include Straws Lane, planted in the 1980s to Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer near Hesket, Midhill, with slightly acidic and well-drained red volcanic soils and Werribee, which produces powerful and robust K Road Shiraz and unadulterated Minnow wines.
The Pyrenees vineyard produces Shiraz with natural spicy aromas, a full palate and long fine tannins, thanks to the inland location at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountain range.
Shadowfax Wines’ commitment to minimal intervention in the winery and precision farming results in wines that are vibrant, pure and drinkable.
The Shadowfax Geelong Pinot Gris 2022 is a delightful wine that showcases a light white straw color with a green hue and brilliant clarity.
The aroma is complex, with nectarine and lychee fruits complemented by nori and mineral flint.
There is a focus and depth to the nose, with barrel-derived complexities and floral notes complementing the more primary fruit aromas.
On the palate, nectarine and apricot immediately wash across, with papaya, ginger and fresh florals adding length and lusciousness.
The palate is generous, but the healthy acidity maintains vitality and zest, with a touch of saltiness on the finish.
This is a great example of maritime Pinot Gris.
This wine pairs well with salmon and cream cheese bagel, nori roll and three cheese souffle.
The viticulture of this wine involved a wet winter and cool spring in Geelong, setting up the growing season.
Small crops fully ripened with a warm summer while retaining good acidity.
The winemaking process involved firmly whole bunch pressing the hand-harvested fruit to release the full Pinot Gris flavor profile.
Natural fermentation occurred in older French barrels, with the wine left to unwind and age slowly on its ferment lees to add generosity.
The Finer Details Style – White Wine Varietal – Pinot Gris Country – Australia Region – Geelongs, Victoria Vintage – 2022 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13%
