Paul Osicka Shiraz 2002
Established: 1955
Region: Australia – Victoria – Bendigo
Winemaker: Paul Osicka
Winery Owner: Paul Osicka
Winery Area: 30 acres (12 ha)
Paul Osicka Wines is one of the longest established wine producers in the Heathcote wine region with the original Shiraz vines planted over 45 years ago. Grown without irrigation on sandy loam soil over quartz and red ironstone gravels, the vineyard is managed according to organic principles, without the use of herbicides or insecticides. The vines are hand pruned to balance the yield and the grapes are hand picked to achieve optimum fruit quality, in turn producing small, intensely flavoured and coloured fruit to make premium wines.
“The Osicka family arrived in Australia from Czechoslovakia in the early 1950s. Vignerons in their own country, they settled at Graytown, and commenced planting vines in 1955. Their vineyard was the first new venture in Central and Southern Victoria for over half a century. It keeps a low profile, but produces consistently good shiraz from the 10 ha of estate plantings (the remainder cabernet sauvignon, merlot and riesling). Produces consistently good shiraz”
James Halliday
Wine background
Produced from non-irrigated, 40-year-old vines grown on sandy gravel soils. Matured in American oak hogsheads (one-third new, two-thirds second and third fill) for 14 months.
Climate
The size of the region, by implication, results in variations in climate, geology and topography. The north is drier than the south and typically receives an average of 5-10mm less rain per month during the vines growing season (October to April). The region’s southern vineyards experience cooler temperatures during the growing season. These can vary between 1.8 and 1.4 degrees Celsius lower, resulting in an extended growing season. This variation in temperature during the grape ripening period results in a spread of picking dates and subsequently the development of a range of different flavour profiles.
Soil
Located to the north of the Great Dividing Range, the Heathcote region is at elevations between 160m and 380m. The majority of soil under vine is Cambrian – red and deep with excellent water retention.
In fact, some vignerons do not irrigate, aiming for smaller fruit that is intensely rich in flavour. The region’s rainfall is evenly distributed between the seasons and the climate is temperate, with cooling winds blowing from the south.
Heathcote wines are defined by their inky depth of colour, and deep, dark, complex fruit. Voluptuous and well balanced, acid and tannin melt together in a way that does not dominate the fruit, but gives the wine great cellaring ability.
These characteristics are a product not only of winemaking skills, but of the vineyard itself. It is the ‘terroir’ of the different vineyards that is responsible. Whilst the terroirs of Heathcote differ, they all produce high quality fruit – and can be credited with the burgeoning fame and demand for Heathcote wines.
