DRINKING WINDOW: DRINK NOW
The cool conditions of the 2011 vintage resulted in harvest
dates four weeks later than the previous growing season. The extended ripening period allowed for the development of more complex and elegant aromatics and overall flavour ripeness occurring at lower sugar concentration, resulting in crisp wines with great aromatic and flavour intensity.
This wine is a blend of 5 blocks from within our vineyard, all with variances in top soil depth, subsoil type, row orientation, clonal selection and micro-climate. The top soil is predominately a red clay loam, and the subsoil varies from shattered limestone to salt & pepper siltstone and bluestone at depth. All vines are grown on their own roots.
The fruit was crushed and destemmed prior to fermentation, during which 2-3 pump overs a day were used to ensure the wine achieved a full tannin structure. It was then pressed out to a combination of new (40%) and old (60%) French barrels where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation facilitated by weekly lees stirring. The wine was then racked off lees and returned to oak to mature. The wines were kept separate for the first 18 months of maturation before being blended and returned to oak for the last 4 months, a total of 22 months in oak.
Lifted notes of spearmint leaf are complemented by vibrant raspberry and cassis. The palate is complex and beautifully layered, with dark fruits and a harmonious finish.
