Australia Shiraz wine Dutschke St. Jakobi 2003 is an elite red wine with elegance that provides richness in spice, dark berries, plum and chocolate aroma and taste. The St. Jakobi vineyard is located in the Barossa Valley, well known for the rich soil that makes it a perfect Shiraz harvesting area. The Shiraz grapes for this Dutschke Shiraz come from this St. Jakobi family vineyard, from vines planted in 1975 and harvested in 2003. This vineyard consistently produces great fruit that shows elegance, richness in spice and lots of plum and chocolate like characters. The 2003 St Jakobi Shiraz is made using the same techniques started back in 1998. Dutschke harvests the vineyard on 2 or sometimes 3 occasions, picking across the flavor spectrum and then fermenting in open fermenters. Dutschke then ages the wine in a combination of both French and American oak hogsheads, purchased from 9 different coopers. This allows for a combination of the wines from those better barrels to make a more interesting wine, showing the full potential of the Shiraz fruit. Drink now through 2013.

Around the end of the 19th century, Dutschke's 72 acre patch of real estate included only a few acres of vineyard, with most of the area being dedicated to cropping and dairy cattle. At the start of the 1930's Oscar Semmler bought the block and more vineyard was planted, but it remained primarily a grazing area for dairy purposes. Oscar's Dad referred to the dirt as a "wonder of creation", a fact borne out by the wine now coming from it. The vineyard of that time, while reflecting the fortified market of the day, did not predict the potential to produce the rich varietal flavors found in current production. Oscar's son Ken returned to the Barossa Valley in the early 1970's. In 1975 the transition began with Ken starting the planting of the beloved Shiraz, and it is this first area of Shiraz that provides the precious component of Dutschke Wines. Currently forty five acres are planted with Shiraz making up one third of that area, the balance including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Most of the fruit gets passed onto other Barossa winemakers, but the best grapes stay at Dutschke to make their prized wines. It's rather fascinating to note that all varieties have performed well, both in an analytic sense and the all important consumer taste test! In 1990 Dustschke decided to keep some of these grapes for themselves and start producing wine of their own from this vineyard under the brand "WillowBend". Production never intended to be a big time operation, with the bulk of the fruit each year being delivered to the Krondorf and Mildara Blass Winemakers. Then with the 1998 vintage release, interest from the United States led to the name being changed to Dutschke Wines and production for future vintages was revved up to support this market and many others to follow, not to mention an increasing number of thirsty Australians. They are now considered one of the premier wine makers in the Barossa Valley of Australia.

RATINGS: 91 points - WineSpectator
"Lithe and supple for a big wine, weaving its plum, blackberry, caramel and spice character into a cohesive whole, letting the flavors linger against fine tannins. Drink now through 2013. 800 cases imported"

88 points - WineFront Monthly

92 points - Tyson Stelzer's Wine Press

94 points - James Halliday Australian Wine Companion

2003 St. Jakobi Shiraz Information:
Winemaker: Wayne Dutschke
Vineyard: Ken Semmler's Lyndoch St. Jakobi Vineyard
Region: Lyndoch, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Harvest Date: 27th February and 7th March 2003
Alcohol: 14.5%
Oak Maturaton: 24 months in New and Older French and American Hogsheads