Hand picked fruit was refrigerated overnight before being carefully destemmed in order to retain whole berries. This fruit was conveyed into bins and again refrigerated whilst the stems were washed and dried in the sun for 5 days. The dried stems were placed in an open fermenter and the whole berry fruit was then poured over the stalks. The must was soaked for about 4 days before the wild ferment kicked in. Once the ferment was active we started to plunge and foot stomp the whole fruit and dried stems. After ferment was complete we pressed the skins and transferred the wine into 15% new French oak puncheons for 16 months maturation.
This unashamedly medium bodied Syrah styled Shiraz shows lovely lifted spice, clove, orange peel, liquorice, plum, blackberry and earthy notes. The palate displays a wonderful core of elegant blue/black fruits, spice and fine tannins. The lifted fruits are supported by a nice core of oak and stalk tannin. Drinking well at the moment the wine will develop added complexity over the next 6 months and then age for up to 10 years.
An exhaustive and exhausting vinification programme, including conveyance of whole bins and refrigeration, drying of stalks after destemming, was rewarded by a wine with a fascinating progression of flavours, some remaining, others leaving/changing their profile.
The activity on the back-palate and finish is a significant attribute.