Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Deep, Dark & Brooding

Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2024 is an unapologetically powerful single-vineyard Barossa Shiraz, but there is real control beneath all that depth. Ripe plum, blackberry and fruitcake are layered with cocoa, cedar, treacle, warm earth and sweet-savoury spice. The palate is full-bodied and saturated with dark fruit, supported by prominent yet sleek tannins and beautifully integrated oak. Rich, structured and exceptionally long, this is a serious Greenock Shiraz with both immediate impact and the backbone for extended cellaring.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Kalleske — a seventh-generation Barossa family estate established in 1853
• Ripe plum, blackberry, fruitcake, cocoa, cedar and warm spice
• Single-vineyard Shiraz from low-yielding Greenock vines descended from old Kalleske vineyard material
• 97 Points — WineSpider / Nicks Wine Merchants, July 2026
• 14.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Profoundly deep and inky in colour, Greenock Shiraz opens with ripe plum, blackberry and rich fruitcake, followed by layers of cocoa powder, cedar, treacle and sweet-savoury spice. Toasty oak and a warm earthy note bring extra depth. The palate is immense and full-bodied, with waves of dark fruit filling the mouth. Prominent but finely driven tannins give it a muscular backbone without turning coarse, while integrated oak adds further dimension. The finish is exceptionally long, carrying dark fruit, cocoa, spice and oak in impressive harmony.

Winemaking

The Greenock block was harvested on 13 March 2024, destemmed into open-top fermenters and fermented warm with hand pump-overs twice daily for eight days on skins. After pressing, the wine was transferred to American and French oak hogsheads, around 30% of them new. Primary fermentation was completed in barrel, followed by natural malolactic fermentation. The wine then matured in barrel for nineteen months before bottling, building the depth, oak integration and structure that define this release.

Vineyard & Vintage

The single Greenock block lies around two kilometres south of Greenock township in the north-western Barossa Valley. The north-facing vineyard sits at approximately 250–265 metres elevation on distinctive red loam over deep red clay, with limestone, ironstone and quartz through the soil. The block was planted around 27 years ago using cuttings from older Kalleske Shiraz vineyards, including vines planted in 1875, 1905 and 1961. Vintage 2024 was excellent: a drier, slightly warmer winter and spring were followed by refreshing summer rainfall, average temperatures and no extreme heat. Steady ripening continued into a mild autumn, producing balanced crops with superb quality.

Why We Love It

This is classic Greenock Shiraz at full volume, but it never becomes shapeless. The dark fruit is deep and concentrated, the oak is obvious but integrated, and those sleek natural tannins give the wine genuine architecture. There is plenty to enjoy now after a good decant, yet the real attraction is how much structure sits underneath the richness. It is a bottle for anyone who loves serious Barossa Shiraz with depth, polish and a long future ahead.

Food Pairing

This wine has the concentration, oak and tannin to handle deeply savoury food. Slow braises, game and charred vegetables work especially well, while earthy flavours echo the warm, mineral and cocoa-like elements in the wine.

Try matching this wine with →

• Beef bourguignon — Find a Recipe
• Miso-glazed eggplant — Find a Recipe
• Venison pie — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

This is a proper dinner-table Shiraz for cooler nights, long meals and occasions when you want to open something with a little gravitas. Give it a large glass, some air and food worthy of its scale.

Cellaring

The 2024 is already impressive but has the fruit concentration, tannin and oak structure for serious ageing. Kalleske recommends it for drinking now or cellaring for another 10–15+ years, meaning well-stored bottles should develop beautifully into the late 2030s and potentially beyond.

Producer

Kalleske is a seventh-generation family-owned estate based at Greenock in the north-western Barossa Valley, where the family has farmed since 1853. Troy and Tony Kalleske established the winery in 2002 after generations of the family had grown grapes for other producers, with Greenock Shiraz and Old Vine Grenache among their inaugural wines. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, with farming centred on soil health, biodiversity and long-term sustainability. Greenock Shiraz is entirely estate grown from one low-yielding block and reflects traditional Barossa winemaking through open-top fermentation, hand pump-overs and extended maturation in American and French oak hogsheads.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy Greenock’s powerful, structured Barossa style, these three wines explore different sides of the same Kalleske estate:

• Plush multi-block Barossa Shiraz with plum, blueberry and dark chocolate — Kalleske Moppa Shiraz
• Vivid, unoaked and preservative-free Shiraz from the same estate — Kalleske Zeitgeist Shiraz
• Structured biodynamic Cabernet with cassis, violet and fine tannins — Kalleske Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon

FAQ

What does Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2024 taste like?

It is a powerful Barossa Shiraz with ripe plum, blackberry, fruitcake, cocoa, cedar, treacle and warm spice. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with substantial but polished tannins, integrated oak and a very long finish.

Is this Shiraz dry, and how full-bodied is it?

Yes, this is a dry red wine and firmly full-bodied. The ripe dark fruit is generous, but structured tannins and savoury oak keep the finish dry and composed rather than sweet.

How much tannin and acidity does it have?

Tannin is a major part of the wine’s structure, sitting around the upper end of medium to high, but the tannins are fine and sleek rather than harsh. Acidity is moderate and sufficient to balance the dense fruit, oak and 14.5% alcohol.

What temperature and glassware are best for Greenock Shiraz?

Serve it around 16–18°C in a large Shiraz or Bordeaux-style red wine glass. The broad bowl gives the concentrated fruit and oak room to open while allowing the aromatics to become more detailed.

Should Kalleske Greenock Shiraz be decanted?

Yes. Give a young bottle around 60 minutes in a decanter, or even a little longer if possible, to soften the tannins and bring out more of the plum, spice, cocoa and earthy complexity.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

Yes, this wine contains sulphites and is not a No Added Preservative wine. It is certified organic and biodynamic, so sulphite use is controlled under organic production standards, while some sulphites also occur naturally during fermentation.

Is Kalleske Greenock Shiraz vegan friendly?

Yes. The bottle identifies the wine as vegan, and it is also certified organic and certified biodynamic.

What foods pair best with this Shiraz?

Its concentration and firm tannins suit beef bourguignon, braised beef, lamb, venison and aged hard cheeses. For a vegetarian option, try miso-glazed eggplant, roasted mushrooms or a rich mushroom and lentil pie.

How long can the 2024 Greenock Shiraz be cellared?

Kalleske recommends drinking it now or over the next 10–15+ years. Stored somewhere cool and stable, it should gradually move from dark primary fruit and oak toward more integrated savoury, earthy and tertiary complexity.

Who will love Kalleske Greenock Shiraz?

This is for drinkers who enjoy powerful, structured Shiraz with concentrated dark fruit, noticeable oak and serious cellaring potential. If you enjoy classic premium Barossa Shiraz rather than lighter, juicy red styles, Greenock sits squarely in that richer camp.

(SKU: KA_GNK_CV)