Greenock Creek, the story

Michael and Annabelle Waugh are uncompromising in their desire to produce the best possible wines.  On the western edge of the Barossa Valley, in the rolling hills between the hamlets of Greenock and Marananga, lies Greenock Creek Wines.  The winery's first release was in 1988, when it sold a 1986 Shiraz from its tiny cellar door situated beneath the Waugh's 150 year old stone cottage. Since then the winery has planted, grafted and acquired more vines, and now specializes in ultra-premium red wine production. The Waugh’s hired superstar winemaker Chris Ringland, Australia’s version of America’s Helen Turley, who also works at Rockford.  His own wine “Three Rivers”, now know only as “Chris Ringland”, is arguably Australia’s number one “cult” wine, on a par with “Screaming Eagle” from the Napa Valley.   

Only grapes grown on the property are used, making it truly an estate winery. The range of wines includes five Shiraz, two Cabernet Sauvignons and a Grenache, all processed at the winery on the Waugh’s Roennfeldt Road property. The wines are released each year in early September and are sold through cellar door, mail order, a selected number of retail outlets in Australia and a small quantity via export.

“I was absolutely astounded by the quality of the wines from Greenock Creek.”  Robert Parker, jr.  The Wine Advocate.

Greenock Creek, the vintage

2001

A great vintage for Greenock Creek, the 2001's offer intense flavors, amazing extract and power, and long fine finishes.  The Shiraz wines have classic black pepper, with crushed raspberry, and ripe tannins.  The Cabernet has aromas of crème de cassis and new saddle leather, with intense blackberry fruit.

2002

The 2002 vintage in Australia will long be remembered the outstanding quality of the grapes harvested.  The red varieties show an intensity of flavor coupled with an lovely elegance and fine-grained tannins. Shiraz is characterized by ripe dark berry fruit and spicy black pepper flavors with fine-grained tannins and excellent length. Cabernet Sauvignon has thrived in the cool conditions, producing a crop with a wealth of blackcurrant, bramble and cassis flavors, a refined structure and clear varietal definition. Considered one of the best vintages in recent memory, the wines are approachable now, but will age magnificently. 

Greenock Creek, the wines

Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Opaque black/purple in color with a fabulous nose of black fruits, cedar, Asian spices, black licorice, and truffle. Highly-extracted, with super-jammy, ripe fruit, and Low acidity.  A long lingering finish.

Reviews:

"...is made from moderately young vines (11 years), and from reasonable yields (2 tons per acre), but that hardly tells the story. This low acid, formidably endowed blockbuster must be the most concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine I have tasted in many a year. An opaque black/purple color is followed by a fabulous nose of black fruits, cedar, Asian spices, licorice, and truffle. The wine hits the palate with layer upon layer of highly-extracted, super-jammy, ripe fruit. Low acidity gives the wine an accessibility and sumptuousness that redefine the word "hedonism." The finish lasts for more than a minute. This is an exhilarating, teeth-staining Cabernet Sauvignon that, remarkably, can be drunk now or cellared for 20-30+ years. An astonishing wine!"  The Wine Advocate
 

Greenock Creek Conerstone Grenache

Made from 64 year old low yielding vines.  Aromas of kirsch liqueur and raspberries, with a ripe berry fruit attack and mid-palate, surprising structure and definition, and terrific richness and ripeness. 

Reviews:

"The 2002 Grenache Cornerstone (190 cases) exhibits a fabulous perfume of kirsch liqueur and raspberries, a corpulent, fleshy attack and mid-palate, surprising structure and definition, and that fabulous richness and ripeness that only come from old vines (64 years) and low yields (.75-1 ton of fruit per acre). Based on past experience with the 1996 and 1998 Cornerstone Grenache, I would opt for drinking this 2002 during its first decade of life."  95 points, The Wine Advocate.

Greenock Creek Seven Acre Shiraz

Made from vines less than 20 years old, and aged in American Oak, this substantial Shiraz boasts an opaque purple color along with a sweet nose of melted licorice intermixed with blackberry jam, pepper, white flowers, and a hint of toast. With layers of gorgeous fruit, voluptuousness, density, and purity. 

Reviews:

"The 2001 Shiraz Seven Acre is an opulent hussy boasting magnificent fruit concentration, enormous body as well as length, and surprising elegance and purity. As always, the fruit and vineyard character dominate because no new oak is utilized in these offerings."  98 points, The Wine Advocate

Greenock Creek Alice's Shiraz

Greenock Creek Apricot Block

Another example of young vines making profound wines.  Spending 26-28 months in old American oak barrels and small foudres (hogsheads), these wines are bottled unfiltered, and exhibits the intense extract, and style unique to Australia.  Made from ultra ripe fruit, they show purity of the Shiraz grape, rarely seen, without being monolithic or heavy.

Reviews:

"...Shiraz Apricot Block represents a spectacular example of Barossa Shiraz. Made from 10-year-old vines cropped at 1-1.5 tons per acre, it is a dense, full-bodied Shiraz possessing fabulous intensity, great purity, and a multi-tiered, skyscraper-like mid-palate. It can be drunk young or cellared through 2018-2020."  99 points, The Wine Advocate

"From the estate’s youngest vineyard (seven years), the 2001 Shiraz Alice’s (600 cases) spends 26-28 months in old American oak barrels and small foudres (hogsheads), and is bottled unfiltered. It is a riveting example of richness, concentration, and body. It should drink well young, but evolve nicely for 12-15 years"  98 points, The Wine Advocate

Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz

Made from half-century old vines, the Roennfeltd Road Shiraz is Greenock Creeks top of the line Shiraz wine.  Wine critic Robert Parker,  has compared vintages of it to the great Bordeaux classics from the 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, and 1982 vintages.  Describing its character as: "the syrup of Shiraz, with compelling blackberry liqueur intermixed with minerals, smoke, and truffles. Huge in the mouth but not overbearing, this wine has a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. With great purity, massive extraction, and a blockbuster, multidimensional personality...one of the greatest Shiraz I have ever tasted."  Very limited with less than 400 cases produced in any year.

Reviews:

"This amazing achievement boasts an inky/black/purple color as well as a striking perfume of smoke, charcoal, blackberry liqueur, and a hint of toast. In the mouth, it is fabulously concentrated and tremendously pure, with layer upon layer of flavors that unfold incrementally. Mouth-staining, but not over the top, it would be hard to find a more concentrated wine anywhere in the world. Although the tannin is high, it is obscured by the wealth of fruit and glycerin. A tour de force in winemaking, it is probably worth the high cost of admission."  100 points, The Wine Advocate.