PRE - VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Winter (average) | Spring (above average).
TEMPERATURE: Warm Spring and early Summer | No extreme heat.
UPSHOT: Consistent flowering and fruit set | Healthy canopy
VINTAGE
RAINFALL: Summer (below average) | Autumn (light).
TEMPERATURE: Days (cool - below average) | Nights (cool).
UPSHOT: Mild, even consistent ripening conditions | Gradual & dense flavour accumulation | High natural acid.
SEPPELTSFIELD VINEYARD
BLOCKS: G Block
VINEYARD: Very shallow red clay loam overlying shattered limestone | North-south oriented rows | Elevated Eastern aspect
HARVEST: 3rd - 19th March 2022
Winemaking
FERMENTATION: Predominantly de-stemmed, some whole bunch | Skin maceration 8-12 days | Open pump-overs & hand plunging | Basket pressed | 55% New French Oak | Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation.
TECH ANALYSIS: Alcohol 15.0% | pH: 3.55 | Acid: 6.5g/L | RS
CELLARING: DRINK NOW TO 2035+
PROFI LE: Thyme | Oregano | Blue fruits | Mocha | Violets
TEXTURE: Persistent drive & length | Complex, elegant layers of fruit intensity | Fine grained tannins.
97 POINTS, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
The 2021 vintage of this wine was an absolute belter and the 2022 carries on in fine form. It’s classic Barossa for sure, all dark plum, blackberry, fruitcake spice and earthy goodness. But there is a beautiful contemporary gloss to the fruit here with fine, ferrous tannins, layers and layers of spice and a bright minerally cadence pushing the wine forward. Power with buoyancy and plenty of cellaring potential = a win all around. Nice one.
Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion.
97 POINTS, THE REAL REVIEW
Inky at the core, glass-staining ruby at the rim. Ripe mulberry, rose petal and musk aromas. A big boy, loaded with powerful and dense fruit that are remarkable in the power yet sit in a more red than black fruit frame, lifted with subtle florals and sweet spices. An intriguing wine, there is so much complexity and power here but gentle acidity offers a lift that brings a surprising airiness to it. As it fills to the back, dark minerality, meaty and savoury notes build along with a firming of the gravelly tannic grip. Every return to the glass shows another facet to the layers. A wine to be savoured as it unfurls in the glass
Stuart Knox, Real Review