DRINKING WINDOW: 10 years
VINTAGE
Leading up to the 2016 vintage, a dry winter and early spring was relieved by 60mm of rain in the first week of November. Consistently warm conditions through late spring and early summer provided ideal ripening conditions with no disease pressure, also bringing expected harvest dates forward. Warmth through December and most of January was followed by a 60mm rain event in the last week of January. This, along with a long spell of mild temperatures provided the vines with some relief. The result was a slowing of sugar ripening and thus providing increased flavour development. Harvest dates mostly returned to normality and the balance of seed and flavour ripeness was the best I have seen since 2010.
G BLOCK: Sourced from ‘G1’, this is the highest point in the Clos Otto block where the red clay loam is at its most shallow and the heavy clay subsoil has its greatest influence. The vineyard has a North/South row orientation and cane pruned to a VSP trellis.
WINEMAKING
Fruit was picked early in the season at 14.1 Baume, and harvested in the cool of the morning before being de-stemmed into an open top fermenter with a high proportion of whole berries retained. Minimal cap management was used throughout fermentation, to create a soft and elegant palate. After 8 days on skins, the wine was basket pressed, settled over night and racked to oak for natural malolactic fermentation. A total of 20 months in new (35%) and seasoned French oak.
PROFILE: Red florals and vibrant red fruits lift the nose. Beautifully balanced, the palate flows effortlessly to a long, fine finish that lingers.
96 POINTS, JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
"Essentially the same vinification for the best wines of the portfolio, except here with 8 days on skins, and 50% new French oak. The colour of these wines is likewise identical. The move from American oak has been for the better, giving this wine a mouthwatering burst of fruit (and oak) from the first sip. It's full-bodied, but is the lightest of these top wines. The attention to detail at every step along the way has to be the crux of the achievement." - JAMES HALLIDAY
