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: D-BLOCK
VINEYARD: Very shallow red clay loam overlying shattered limestone | North-south oriented rows | Elevated Eastern aspect | Long, even sunlight.
UPSHOT: Reduced natural vine vigour
FERMENTATION: De-stemmed | 10-12 days on skins | Open pump-overs | Basket pressed | French oak (60% new, 40% seasoned) | Natural malolactic fermentation | 22 months maturation.
TECH ANALYSIS: Alcohol 15.2% | pH: 3.50 | Acid: 6.5g/L | RS <1.0g/L
CELLARING: DRINK NOW TO 2034+
PROFILE: Black raspberry | Cedar | Blackberry | Vanilla bean.
TEXTURE: Grippy tannin | Well-structured | Integrated oak.
