Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz
Best's Thomson Family Shiraz, originating from Henry Best's 1866 Shiraz plantings, is a rarity produced approximately six times a decade. Commencing in 1993 to commemorate the Thomson family's centenary in the region, this exceptional wine draws grapes mainly from the 15 historic rows planted by Henry Best, noted as "Hermitage" in his journal. Today, it is known as the Concongella clone and serves as the ancestral clone for all subsequent shiraz plantings at Best's Great Western. These 150-year-old vines, nurtured without irrigation, yield less than four tonnes per hectare, undergoing meticulous hand-harvesting, hand-plunging, and fermentation in small open vessels. Aged in 20% new French oak, the wine matures for 14-18 months in Best's underground cellars.
About Best's Great Western
Best’s Great Western has been owned by two families since 1866 (with the first wines produced in 1868) – the founding Best family and the Thomson family, who purchased the property in 1920. Best’s is now run by fifth-generation Ben Thomson. The vineyards at Best’s were planted in the late 1860s and are amongst the oldest and rarest pre-phylloxera plantings in the world.