Purchased in 2018, Dominion became Spinifex’s second estate vineyard after the Rostein site in the Eden Valley (acquired in 2014). Located pretty much in the dead centre of the Barossa Valley near Vine Vale, the vineyard covers four hectares, with the Shiraz drawn from 0.8-hectares of ancient vines planted in 1918, along with two additional parcels planted between 1993 and 1997.
Vintage wise, 2019 was marked by low winter rains and a dry growing season, resulting in miniscule yields of tiny, concentrated berries laden with tannin. The final haul weighed in at less than than 15 hectolitres per hectare (only slightly healthier than the Dominion’s Grenache yield of 10hl/ha from the same year)! Hand-harvested in late February, the bunches were chilled overnight prior to fermenting wild—30% as whole clusters with the remainder uncrushed berries. Fermentation lasted 12 days and extraction was kept to a minimum due to the innate concentration of the fruit. The wine was pressed to a pair of 500-litre French oak puncheons (one new) before maturation on light lees for 18 months. Bottled without filtration.
First vintage or otherwise, the wine itself is something special. Opening with black plums and cherries, dark chocolate, a little graphite, and a touch of new leather, there’s tremendous sense of delicacy and detail despite the obvious power. The palate revels in the purity and intensity that results from well-farmed, incredibly old vines. A sliver of classy oak sits discreetly in the background and, while the tannins are there, they are silken and barely perceptible. It’s so damn drinkable now but this will still be looking great in 10, if not 20 years from now.
“Inky, deep, rich and gravelly, all this done really well, concentrated, potent, black fruited red wine territory here. Stretches luxuriously and with throaty grunt, ashy spice, unfurling layers of tannin, liquid spice and malty wood, all shot through with plummy, cassis and kirsch flavours. Yowsers. Serious red this. And done with aplomb.” 94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
"A wine of real depth and power that also delivers real complexity. Dark-berry and plum aromas with plenty of spice and dark chocolate, as well as tarry accents. The palate is bold, powerful and packed with ripe dark-fruit flavors. Long, uncompromising finish. From vines planted in 1918. Drink over the next decade. Screw cap." 96 points, jamessuckling.com
"Pete Schell's inaugural release of a single-vineyard shiraz from the Dominion vineyard in Vine Vale, planted in 1918. As with all of Pete's wines, the leitmotif is fruit purity writ large. Here it's juicy damson plum and black cherries sheathed in purple floral flecks that I often see in wines from the foot of the eastern range. Deep spice, a touch of polished leather, fine long-chain tannins that cascade through the wine and a simmering sense of latent power. It's a wine of great depth but there is a sense of grace present also, which is a wonderful thing." 96 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion