Le Sommelier Inc.

Frux Frugis is Latin for ‘Fruit of the Earth’. Many wine makers believe that the smell of the earth comes through in the wine. Ulithorne believes the rocky clay loam over the limestone and the shale of ‘Ulithorne’ bears witness to this. Ulithorne ‘Frux Frugis’ grapes are hand selected from the oldest vines on the vineyard. The remainder of the Shiraz from these old vines is used in labels such as Rosemount’s Balmoral and some of Penfolds’ top wines.

In 2001, they made their first ‘Frux Frugis’ Shiraz from 35 year old vines. It was released in April 2003 to strong reviews. 2001 and 2002 vintages are sold out.

Varietal: Shiraz 100%

Soil type: Rocky clay loam over the limestone

Aging: 18 mths in barrel, 25% New French Oak, 17% New American Oak, 58% 1+yr French Oak

Alcohol: 14.5%

Cases produced: 900

Tasting notes / Reviews: Wine bottled in December 2005. This Shiraz exhibits a complex nose of ripe berry fruit (plum & blackberry) evident with new oak tones of vanilla and spice.  The tannins are bold and the wine has a beautiful complexity that will further develop with bottle age. 

"This deep plum/purple-tinged 100% Shiraz explodes from the glass offering scents of vanilla, minty blackberries, figs, plums, and meat. Huge in the mouth, but essentially closed at present, this is an enormously endowed effort with sensational concentration. It requires 2-3 years of bottle age, and should keep for an uncommonly long time, 15 or more years. For connoisseurs." 91 pts, Robert Parker, 2006.

"This estate shows no signs of dropping the baton. Far from it, they are sprinting away from the competition with some of the most fragrant and memorable fruit flavours I have ever seen." - Matthew Jukes, Top 100 Best Australian Wines 2006.

"Tasting was ecstasy, spitting it quite difficult. Low-yields, sustainable viticulture, minimal irrigation and unfiltered juice went into crafting this wine from a small family-owned concern. Full bodied, rich and complex, expect aromas of black pepper, ripe berry fruit, aromatic bitters and espresso roast. The flavours are a mélange of sweet juicy dark fruit—cherry, mulberry and blackberry. The tannins are supple, but perceptible, and the lingering finish is amazingly well balanced from a spine of moderating acidity. Drink now to 2018."
5 / 5, Vic Harradine, winecurrent.com

Past reviews

Robert Parker 2001 Vintage 93 points
Max Allen “a cult wine in waiting” of our 2001 vintage
Robert Parker 2002 Vintage 91 points
Matthew Jukes 2002 Vintage one of the top 250 wines of the world
Robert Parker 2003 Vintage 91 points
Winestate 2003 vintage ‘best of style’ - 4 stars
James Halliday rated Ulithorne as one of the Top 10 new wineries in 2005