The 2003 Noon Winery Reserve Shiraz is a profound, fully mature expression of traditional Langhorne Creek Shiraz, crafted with absolute fidelity to old-school Australian winemaking by Noon Winery. Produced only in exceptional years, the Reserve Shiraz represents the estate’s most powerful and long-lived wine, built expressly for extended cellaring.
The 2003 vintage in Langhorne Creek was warm and generous, delivering fruit of exceptional ripeness and concentration. Sourced from mature, low-yielding Shiraz vines planted on the region’s deep alluvial soils, the wine benefits from natural balance provided by cooling evening breezes from nearby Lake Alexandrina—an essential factor in preserving structure and longevity in warmer years.
Winemaking followed a traditional, no-compromise approach. Hand-harvested fruit was fermented using classic methods, with extended maceration to extract deep colour, flavour, and robust tannin structure. The wine was then matured for an extended period in high-quality oak barrels, allowing slow integration and the development of complex secondary and tertiary characters over time.
Now more than two decades on, the 2003 Reserve Shiraz shows a beautifully evolved profile. Aromas of blackberry conserve, dried plum, liquorice, and dark chocolate are layered with savoury notes of leather, smoked meat, earth, spice, and cedar. The palate remains full-bodied and authoritative, yet harmonious, with softened tannins, deep savoury complexity, and a long, persistent finish that reflects both vintage strength and patient maturation.
Drinking superbly now with gentle decanting, the 2003 Noon Winery Reserve Shiraz is a compelling example of how traditionally made Australian Shiraz can age with grace, power, and character.
A rare and highly collectable release for lovers of mature, uncompromising Australian Shiraz.
