La Pleiade: Heathcote, Australia

A chance meeting in the mid nineties was the start of a partnership between two influential winemaking families of modern times—The Laughtons and the Chapoutiers. A common belief in biodynamic farming and its expression of “true terroir” led to the forming of a common vision—to create wines that were from opposing sides of the world, old and new world, that were joined in the philosophy of their creation—as true expressions of their terroir.

La Pleiade Heathcote Shiraz This dynamic partnership also yielded a Shiraz vineyard in Central Victoria’s Heathcote region, the home of Jasper Hill. Planted in the spring of 1998, this tiny vineyard was established on virgin red Cambrian soils and planted with both Australian Shiraz clones, selected by Ron, and French Syrah clones, imported by Michel. The label depicts ‘La Pleiade’ (The Pleiades, Seven Sisters), a small, wispy star cluster in the constellation of Taurus that can be viewed by the naked eye from both partners home vineyards in Tain l’Hermitage and Heathcote.

2009 La Pleiade Shiraz— (100% Shiraz) The grapes are hand harvested, gently destemmed and then fermented in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts for six weeks. The wine is very lightly pressed and aged for 14 months in French oak casks.

“The 2009 presents a very deep purple-black color and aromas of ripe blackberries and crushed black currants over aromas of cloves, smoked bacon, Sichuan pepper and tar plus a whiff of dark chocolate. Full bodied with mouth-filling rich, ripe fruit, it has a good backbone of crisp acid, firm grainy tannins and a long pepper and smoked meat finish. Give it another 12-18 months to open and soften and drink it to 2020 .” 93+ pts Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate #195 June 2011

2008 La Pleiade Shiraz—(100% Shiraz)  “…….a deep garnet purple color and aromas of warm cassis, dark chocolate and licorice with spicy hints of cumin seed and cassis. Crisp acidity balances the rich, full-bodied, buxom fruit with medium-firm, fine tannins to lend support. The finish is long with a touch of earthy / truffle character coming through.” 92 pts Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate #189 June 2010