Description
After a long day in the vineyard, we are sure that Great Grandfather Julius would enjoy this classic Barossa Shiraz. A rich, full-bodied wine with ripe dark fruit flavours, complex oak characteristics and a long finish that whilst drinks well upon release will cellar gracefully for those with patience
Growing Season
The 2025 vintage has delivered wines of exceptional quality, destined to rank among the finest. This warm and dry year was punctuated by significant growing season frosts, with rainfall from Winter through Summer reaching only two-thirds of the average. Two major frosts in September set the tone for a challenging yet rewarding season. Spring temperatures were 1 degree above average, while Summer was 2 degrees higher. The combination of warmth, dry conditions, and lower yields resulted in the earliest start and finish to vintage since our winemaking journey began in 2002. These steady ripening conditions ensured the vines remained healthy, producing grapes of outstanding quality and the resultant 2025 wines stand firmly in the upper echelon.
Vineyard
Nietschke Julius is sourced from select vineyards across the premier North-Western Barossa, including the renowned Greenock sub-region. The hand-pruned vines are low-yielding and are grown in shallow, sandy loam soil over deep red clay, providing ideal conditions for quality Shiraz.
Winemaking
The grapes were harvested in multiple batches from mid-February to early March. They were then fermented on skins in open-top fermenters for 7 to 14 days, with hand pump-overs twice daily, before being pressed and matured in hogshead barrels for two years. The wine was aged in a mix of seasoned and new French and American oak. A 14% portion of Petit Verdot was blended with the Shiraz to add further depth and complexity.
Tasting Notes
2025 Nietschke Julius Julius is an impenetrable inky black-purple, immediately signaling the power and depth that follow.
The aroma is highly expressive and intense, opening with vibrant black fruits, rich plum pudding, and concentrated berry compote, layered with refined oak notes of dark chocolate, toast, and cedar spice.
The palate is immense and full-bodied, saturated with ripe, generous fruit that envelops the mouth. Firm, finely integrated chalky tannins provide a strong structural backbone, while polished oak layers build through the palate, leading to an exceptionally long, complex, and compelling finish.
A superb expression of Barossa Shiraz, it is deeply satisfying now and has the balance and concentration to develop beautifully over the next decade.
