In 1893, the Kaesler family planted some of the first vines in the Barossa Valley. Today, their legacy of exploration and regional expression continues as viticulturist Nigel van der Zande and winemaker Tim Dolan breathe new life into old vines, carving a distinct path that takes wine lovers beyond the traditional Barossa shiraz.
“Our focus on regenerative farming started around 20 years ago,” Nigel says. “It continues to evolve as we learn ways to adapt to the climate, the seasonal conditions and the impact they have on our ancient vineyards.”
The fruit for Kaesler wines is estate-grown, vines hand pruned and hand-picked to ensure their longevity. Some of the estate’s grenache and mourvèdre vineyards are in their 96th year, whilst the shiraz vines, at 130 and 125 years, are some of the oldest in the Valley.
Kaesler’s younger vines were grafted from old-vine cuttings, preserving their unique genetic material while providing the fruit for fresh, vibrant styles that reflect the diversity of the region. “We are fiercely Barossan but believe that our unique perspective sets us apart from the traditional narrative,” Nigel says.
This May sees the long-awaited release of the Kaesler’s 2021 icon wines, a “genuine 10/10” season that was nothing short of brilliant, Tim says. These cellar-ready reds include the Old Bastard Shiraz, Old Vine Shiraz, Alte Reben Shiraz, WOMS Shiraz Cabernet and Age of Light Cabernet Sauvignon.
“The silky-smooth tannins that come from old vines ensure our wines are approachable on release, but it’s the evolution in bottle that captivates us the most,” Tim says. “There’s nothing better than pulling out a well-cellared wine and discovering just how gracefully it’s aged.”
Five Kaesler wines to try
2021 Kaesler Wines Avignon GSM
A blend of 48/27/25 per cent grenache/shiraz/mourvédre from the cracking 2021 vintage. It's spicy, detailed and a joy to drink with pure, plummy and red-berried fruits cut with ginger spice, cola, earth, purple flowers and roasting meats. There is a wonderful sense of space and tension, with a bright line and savoury palate shape, finishing chalky with a plume of spice, raspberry and red plum. 14% alc. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsH. What do you love about this wine?
TD. “Avignon” is a nod to the town in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of France; the wines and styles of this region are truly inspirational, and often age beautifully. We’re striving for our best interpretation with the 2021 Avignon Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre which we think is one of the greats. Pairs well with game dishes such as quail, duck or a mushroom ragout.
RRP $60 | Drink to 2033 | Shop this wine
2021 Kaesler Wines Reach for the Sky Shiraz
Another cracker from the excellent 2021 vintage, more along the blueberry and boysenberry fruit line in this wine with abundant spice and hints of dark chocolate, licorice, Christmas cake, roasting meats and violets. Tight, fine sandy tannins lend ample support and the wine trails off nicely with a real meaty, dark-fruited edge. 14.5% alc. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 94 pointsH. What do you love about this wine?
TD. Reach For the Sky is all about approachability. It’s a soft, juicy style of shiraz that reflects the opulence and diversity of Barossa, with fruit carefully selected from multiple blocks across our estate vineyards that lend themselves to a drink-now wine.
RRP $35 | Drink to 2033 | Shop this wine
2022 Kaesler Wines The Fave Grenache
Such a pretty wine this, bright in hue with red cherry, plum and raspberry fruits cut with hints of exotic spice, wildflowers, crushed stone, raspberry coulis, wild strawberries, citrus rind, gingerbread and earth. Detailed with plenty of space, tension and verve, a minerally pulse and a real sense of savoury, purely fruited joy. Just lovely drinking. 14.5% alc. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsH. What do you love about this wine?
TD. This small-batch project has become the ‘fave’ of everyone here at Kaesler. Grenache from 90-year-old vines add complexity, while a portion of whole bunches for fermentation adds elegance, brightness and freshness. It’s great with crispy Asian pork belly; we recommend chilling the wine in warmer months.
RRP $60 | Drink to 2033 | Shop this wine
2021 Kaesler Wines The Bogan Shiraz
Beautifully named, The Bogan has become a finer offering over the years. With clarity, balance and space, it's still Barossa through and through, rich in dark berry fruits, spices, violets and earthen depth, but tension and a savoury shape has replaced the pure horsepower of old. Best drunk in your favourite flanny shirt watching Bathurst on the telly. It's a beauty from a cracking vintage. 14.5% alc. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsH. What do you love about this wine?
TD. Don’t let the cheeky name fool you – this is a sophisticated, full-bodied shiraz that brings out the inner bogan in all of us. Full of warmth and personality and made from estate vines planted in 1889 and the 1960s, it’s the perfect companion to a classic Aussie rib-eye steak.
RRP $60 | Drink to 2028 | Shop this wine
2021 Kaesler Wines Age of Light Cabernet Sauvignon
A cassis-laden, fruit pure and graceful expression with layers of spice, dried herbs, morello cherry, briar, violets and earth. There is latent power, but also a fine elegance within a powdery tannin framework and a real sense of vitality and verve as it sails across the palate. Lots of upside on the cellar front here. 13.5% alc. – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsH. What do you love about this wine?
TD. At Kaesler we’re keen to ensure the spotlight isn’t always on shiraz, grenache or blends thereof, but that it's also put on cabernet sauvignon. We are lucky enough to have some high-quality cabernet parcels on our estate that lend themselves to an age-worthy style that we feel is pure and varietal. The 2021 Age of Light is a representation of the best cabernet parcel from this vintage. Made in extremely limited quantity, this wine will be released in May of this year.
RRP $150 | Drink to 2040 | Released May, 2024
For more information visit kaesler.com.au.
