DRINKING WINDOW: NOW - 2031
The cool rainy conditions of the 2011 vintage resulted in harvest
dates four weeks later than the previous growing season, and while there were obvious disease concerns, the positive flip side of this was the impact on flavour development. The extended ripening period allowed for the development of more complex and elegant aromatics and overall flavour ripeness occurring at lower sugar concentration
The Grenache and Zinfandel vines are located on the eastern facing slope of our vineyard. When founder Keith Hentschke purchased the property, this block was a quarry, and today the shallow soil profile overlaying the quarry limestone reduces the natural vigour of the vine, allowing vibrancy and intensity to shine in the fruit. The Shiraz is selected from an elevated block with a westerly aspect on the western side of the creek.
Both Grenache and Shiraz parcels went through extended maceration, with a total of 40 days on skins, and half the Zinfandel underwent a 14 day rack drying process before being recombined with the remainder of the block for fermentation. The wines were pressed out to a combination of old and new (5%) French and American hogs heads and barrels where they underwent natural malolactic fermentation before being racked off lees and returned to oak to mature for a total of 10 months.
Bright aromas of strawberry and rhubarb are layered with warming spice and subtle earthy notes. The palate reveals savoury nuances of forest undergrowth beneath vibrant red fruit.
