Alkina Estate, Kin Series Shiraz Barossa Valley 2021

90 points Wine Advocate

Forbes
“This Barossa Valley Australian Shiraz is a collaboration between Managing Director Amelia Nolan, and consultants Alberto Antonini and Pedro Parra, as part of Napa-based New Frontier Wine Co.'s premium wine collection. It is a sumptuous Shiraz without any of the cloying plumminess of many from Down Under. Its herbaceous notes help mellow the tannins. The alcohol is about 14.2%. Excellent choice for game meats and duck.”

Vinous Reverie Notes
Alkina is a new story on an old place. The idea of the estate is to understand, nurture and ultimately express beautiful land (terroir) in their wines. The farm is on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri people and Alkina is an indigenous Australian girl’s name meaning ‘moon’. This name embodies the respect for the land and the many forces of nature that bring life, energy and authenticity to the wines. Alkina Estate was established in 2015 when Argentinean vintner Alejandro Bulgheroni purchased a 60 hectare farm near Greenock in the North Western corner of the Barossa Valley. In the terroir there is soil and rock. Main bedrock material is schist (a metamorphic rock), the schist has varying degrees of fractures and ranges from highly fractured to tight/non-fractured schist. Within the schist there are also varying degrees of clay, the clay is ‘born’ from the schist. In some areas the clay exists mainly within the fractures of the schist, in other areas there is pure clay without schist or clay with schist at depth. Iron is also present within this mix, this can be seen in the red color of the clay. Within the schist and clay are patches of limestone containing some schist and no clay. All these different elements impact the final product, which is wine. Tasting Notes: It is lifted and floral, with red, blue and black fruit that feels cool and controlled. The tannins build on the palate and cut through the fruit, bringing savory structure and savory refreshment. Food Pairings: Roasted, braised or grilled meats as well as both hard and soft cheeses.