Old Bastard Shiraz

Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz is among Australia's highest regarded Shiraz wines.

It is sourced from a tiny revered patch – just 12 rows – of ancient vines planted in 1893. The vines are a unique clone of Shiraz now extinct in France, the cuttings taken before Phylloxera decimated European vineyards.

For over 100 years, the vineyard was a secret stash of exceptional Shiraz used by Barossa wineries for their super premium wines. In 1998, Kaesler owner and winemaker Reid Bosward used a parcel to produce the first Old Bastard Shiraz.

The following year he acquired the vineyard and brought it back from the brink of death, and the rest is history.

The winemaking is a closely guarded secret. All that is known is that the fruit is handpicked at the crack of dawn and the wine matures in French oak, 35% new and the rest one year old.

Deep garnet purple, Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz is full bodied and fruit driven to the core, with dark berry flavours, savoury aromatic spices, good acidity and silky, delicate tannins.

A benchmark Barossa Shiraz. Cellaring potential is 20 years.