Schulz Block 15 - One of the Great Blocks of Ebenezer
Block 15 - Pre Harvest Check
BAROSSA VINEYARDS
SCHULZ HOME BLOCK
The Schulz’s have been growing grapes in Ebenezer for some 170 years, initially with the Primrose Vineyard in the Ebenezer Hills on the Moppa border and later with what has become the Schulz Home Block on Belvidere Road in the Ebenezer heartland. This block has been home for Marcus and Ros for more than 50 years, but has been a super premium Barossa Vineyard for much longer. Planted to predominantly Shiraz with small plantings of Semillon, Roussanne and an extraordinary old Mataro block.
Old SHIRAZ
Of most historical significance are the old Shiraz and Mataro blocks in the centre of the vineyard. Here, Block 14, 15 and 16 have been the source of many of the Barossa’s most famous wines. Block 14 was the source of the very first Torbreck Runrig in 1994 and it remains a key contributor to this day. Block 16 has been the source of the Schulz Marcus, and more recently has provided fruit for the Torbreck Factor. Finally, Block 15 sits in the middle of these and is an almost 5 acre patch. The fruit has been delivered to Penfolds for many years - Grange, RWT, St Henri, and 389, depending on the season. The Block is now one of our premium Shiraz blocks, and we are very happy to have it.
Old Vines in the Schulz Home Block
Block 15
Block 15 is a very old block, the oldest of the Schulz Shiraz Blocks. Planted on its own roots in sandy soils over red earth and clay. Prime Shiraz territory. In good years, this block crops at 1 tonne per acre, in some years almost none. Farmed organically, dry grown in most years but cared for with the most extreme attention to detail (and cost) by the Schulz’s. Hand Pruned, Hand Picked, Shoot Thinned (see below). Year in, year out it produces dark, dense fruit that makes truly special wines.
Shoot Thinning Block 15, summer 2022
What do We DO with it?
Block 15 or nearby Block 16 has been the source of the fruit for the Hayes Family Wines ‘The Marcus’ Shiraz since the 2016 vintage. This is without doubt one of our most popular wines, traditionally only one barrel. But with us now sourcing the full capacity of Block 15, we will see a bit more Marcus with two barrels to be released as the 2021 The Marcus.
With a few tonnes of fruit at hand, coupled with the wonderful 2021 vintage, Block 15 will play a part in a few other wines, the 2021 Reserve (in combination with our Koonunga Ancestor block from the Hoffmann’s) and in our 2021 Block 15, a new release that will go into bottle later this year.
The Marcus Shiraz
Block 15 is a special blocK!
Keep your eye out for releases of the Marcus, the Reserve and of course Block 15 later in 2023.
