Sam Plunkett The Butterfly Effect Reserve Shiraz 2014
About the wine
Sam really crafts 4 separate Shiraz wines before finding the perfect blend to showcase their best qualities.
Sam Plunkett, your Angel-funded winemaker, says:
- "Angels give me the freedom to grow less fruit in order to get better, more concentrated fruit. Gentle Annie and Geddes vineyards at Dookie, Booroola Vineyard at Avenel, plus a contribution from Tait Hamilton Vineyard in Heathcote all produce rich ripe grapes that lend deep colour and concentrated flavour to the wine, as well as the classic black pepper typical of Central Victoria Shiraz."
- "The wine was made in a number of small batches (ferment in 6T and 9T open fermenters for the wine nerds) which we plunged 2 or 3 times each day to mix up the fermenting juice and grape skins. This small batch winemaking takes more work than a single big ferment, but lets us tailor winemaking for each unique parcel and so does a better job of extracting colour, flavour and tannin to the right level from each parcel."
- "This small batch approach lets us make higher quality wine with more character than simple big scale winemaking. So much flavour! And more than just simple fruit flavours, the wine has layers and depth of flavour. It is true to the Aussie big rich Shiraz style. A lot of wine for a modest price."
Best before
The red fruit and pepper notes, and rich velvety texture make this an appealing drink now. But it has enough tannin and the structure and fruit weight to allow medium term cellaring for people who enjoy and more savoury complex wine.
Serving advice
No real need to decant. I think the wine is a little more refreshing a little cooler, say 16C, rather than the 18C often recommended for Shiraz
Food match
We grow lamb as well as grapes, so for me Shiraz and roast lamb is a delicious treat. Or anything with a smokey flavour to match the smokey oak notes - for example bbq steak.

Contains sulphites
Always check the label
Australia
South Australia
Syrah | Shiraz
Big Red
13.5% ABV
750ml
Wine profile
Meet the winemaker - Sam Plunkett
- Sam is one of our Australian All-Stars. He garnered lots of attention as the award-winning winemaker at Plunkett Fowles.
- But Plunkett Fowles hit rough waters and Sam wasn't sure he'd be able to stay in the wine business...until he became Angel funded. Your support put his startup on the map.
- Now Sam is off to the races – with the same dedication to quality winemaking that won so many accolades at Plunkett Fowles – and none of the bother about sales and marketing.
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