The first release of the Elenay Shiraz in 2011 was the result of what Andrew Thomas calls, a “beautiful accident”. A few barrels that were originally destined for the premium Kiss Shiraz but didn’t quite fit the style were blended with a few barrels of Sweetwater Shiraz stylistic outliers to form the Elenay Shiraz. Such was the enthusiasm for the wine, Thomas decided to continue with the label, each year selecting barrels from his unique Shiraz parcels to create a premium Hunter Valley expression. Each year the vineyard composition changes but the style remains the same, with premium French oak playing an important part, especially in its youth.
The 2018 vintage is comprised of a selection of newer barrels from the Kiss (66%), Belford (14%), Cote d’Or (12%) and Dam Block (8%) parcels.