Shinas Estate

Shinas Estate is situated in the northwest region of Victoria. This region is known for its Mediterranean-like climate, classic wines and great food. The first vines were planted in the region in 1886 and by 1898 vine planting commenced on the estate. With eight generations of grape gowing and wine producing experience, as well as George Shinas' passion for perfection, he draws on time honored traditions to produce premium hand crafted wine. Currently there are two wines in the Shinas Estate portfolio, the Guilty Shiraz and the Innocent Viognier. The names for the wines come from owner George Shinas's career as a judge in his hometown of Mildura.

The Guilty, Shiraz

This wine along with its deceased sibling, ‘The Innocent’ (Viognier) is what started the rise to illustrious fame and fortune for the Judge. The days of Shallow Creek Estate were radically altered when new marketing and branding took over leaning on George’s legal career. What never changed though was the source of this bold value until the demand outstripped the supply. This estate bottled Shiraz started from a single block that’s first plantings date back to 1898 and it has the concentration and power to prove it. Today, the demand for this wine has gone crazy like the Chinese thirst for DRC and George had to finally begin sourcing fruit from nearby vineyards.

The grapes are picked when The Judge feels the grapes are at their maximum flavor and density, often quite late. If it wasn’t for The Judge’s deft hand and old, gnarly vines, the grapes would surely succumb to a fateful ending. The soil and roots allow for this to occurs and still maintain freshness in the wine. The fruit is fermented in a combination of large wooden fermenters and stainless steel tanks with routine foot stomping and pumpovers over 2-3 weeks for maximum extraction. The lots are basket-pressed to old French barriques for a lengthy 24 month élévage where the wood acts as a blanket to soften the wine out and bring a beautiful touch of oxidation to the wine. It was bottled without fining or filtration.

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The Executioner, Red Blend

‘Executioner’ is the Judge’s take on a ‘reserve’ wine. This is the fifth release of this hedonistic concoction. Made up of the oldest Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon plantings on the estate vineyard with a splash of Viognier. This is power, pure power. A wine of awesome splendor that is sure to please the palates of even the most discerning consumer. As the Judge has said, “it’s not for the fainthearted and if you drink a bottle of the Executioner and drive, you will surely come before the Judge.” Who needs ‘The Prisoner’ when you have ‘The Executioner?’

The grapes are picked on flavor at optimum ripeness, gently crushed and each parcel of fruit is fermented separately on skins for 5 to 7 days with controlled temperature to prevent rapid fermentation retaining fruit flavor. The finished wine is pressed off skins and stored in seasoned oak until it has gone through malolactic fermentation, racked and sulfured and further aged for 2 years before bottling. It spends 1 year of bottle aging prior it’s release.

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The Verdict, Cabernet

On one of the Judge’s many trips to the US, he sat down with a sales rep at a restaurant to have a late lunch between countless appointments. Judge Shinas ordered a glass of a Napa Cabernet and The Verdict is a Cabernet Sauvignon that brings a lot of intensity to the glass, yet bright, high tones. A wine that will please any fan of the ‘new Napa-style’, in that it has a lot of ripeness and texture though it is an astounding value, something Napa can rarely claim.

The grapes are picked on flavor at optimum ripeness, gently crushed and each parcel of fruit is fermented separately on skins for 2-3 weeks with controlled temperature to prevent rapid fermentation retaining fruit flavor. The finished wine is pressed off skins and stored in seasoned oak until it has gone through malolactic fermentation, racked and sulfured and further aged for 2 years before bottling.

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