PRE-VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Winter (consistent) | Spring (above average).
TEMPERATURE: Mild Spring and early Summer | No extreme heat.
UPSHOT: Consistent flowering and fruit set | Healthy canopy.
VINTAGERAINFALL: Summer (below average) | Autumn (light).
TEMPERATURE: Days (mild - average) | Nights (cool).
UPSHOT: Delayed ripening conditions | Gradual & extended flavour accumulation | Great natural acidity.
G BLOCK: Shallow red clay loam overlying red plastic clay | North-south oriented rows | Elevated eastern aspect | Long even sunlight
UPSHOT: Reduced natural vine vigour | Intense and vibrant.
FERMENTATION: Predominantly de-stemmed, some whole bunch | 7-11 days on skins | Open pump-overs & hand plunging | Basket pressed | 55% New French Oak | Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation.
PROFILE: Plum | Violets | Cinnamon | Clove | Star Anise
TEXTURE: Persistent drive & length | Complex, elegant layers of fruit intensity | Fine grained tannins.
97 points - THE REAL REVIEWVery bright, deep, dense, glass staining purple colour; charred caramellised wood and graphite, smoked charcuterie and cocoa nibs on the nose; the palate dense and super-packed with flavour and ultra-ripe fruit. Some spicy/herbal characters. The tannins are biting and gritty with a hint of pleasantly cleansing bitterness and balanced grip. A massive wine but it's all in proportion, and will richly reward long keeping -Huon Hooke
