Charles Melton The Kirche Barossa Valley Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Lovely deep colour, with excellent bright hue. Black fruits on the nose, blackberry with a touch of cedary, gently smoky oak. Plush creamy structure with some lovely round tannins and great length mouth filling, but fine and elegant.
The estate is situated in a region called Krondorf, around 290 metres above sea level. The vines were planted in1989 and 1974, so are relatively youthful, at around 40 years old. They produce some of the highest quality Cabernet grown in the Barossa, along with superb Shiraz. Most of the vineyard sits on loam and red clay, with the edge on the eastern side, heading into the seam of black cracking clay. The name comes from the surrounding area known as the Zum Kripplen Christi Lutheran Church (Kirche in German), built in 1864.
100% estate grown Shiraz and Cabernet, principally from the Kirche vineyard in Krondorf Village, gives the Kirche its distinctive aromatics and flavour. Both varieties from this block perform consistently at the top end of the quality spectrum. The blend isa mix of co-fermented Shiraz and Cabernet and single varietal ferments that are blended post-oak maturation. As always, a mix of French oak (50%) and American oak (50%) are used to mature the wine. A touch of new oak adds a fine cedar element to the bouquet, and the 30 month “sur lie” maturation gives a natural richness to the structure. A cool (18 –23ºc) ferment has helped give an elegance to the fruity aromas.
| RRP | £41.99 |
| Bottle size | 75cl |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Alcoholic strength | 14.5% |
| Awards | Trophy, IWC, 2025 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | South Australia |
| Subregion | Barossa Valley |
| Grapes | Shiraz 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 40% |
| Residual sugar (g/l) | 0.5 |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Organic | No |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Stelvin Lux |
| Winemaker | Charlie Melton |
Charlie Melton was among the first to recognise the value and tradition of Barossa Valley’s old-vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (Mataro). While others were grubbing up Shiraz to plant more fashionable varieties, Charlie and a small band of Barossa winemakers convinced farmers to keep their historic vineyards. These wines were initially styled on those from the Rhône but are now considered leading examples in their own right.
Since 1984, Charlie has produced premium Barossa red wines. Charles Melton is a family project, and today his daughter Sophie, a talented young winemaker, assists Charlie in the winery. The wines have lovely balance and freshness, with the use of primarily French and some American oak giving them a supple texture and poise. The grapes are dry-grown, chemical-free and harvested from estate-owned vineyards in Tanunda and Lyndoch. These vineyards now comprise 20 hectares, the oldest planted in 1947 and the rest from the late 1960s onwards. The estate vineyards are supplemented by other growers with whom Charlie has worked for many years, with the oldest grower block dating from the 1880s, with numerous vines ranging between 70 and 100 years old.
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