Pete Schell's Aglianico is drawn from vines rooted in the quartz clay and granite soils of Caj Amadio's vineyard near Kersbrook in the northern Adelaide Hills, at 300 metres above sea level. Aglianico is already a late ripening variety--more so at this kind of altitude--and these are Spinifex's last vines to be harvested.
Pete says,
"Aglianico has shown a great affinity for this site with the fruit ripening very late, typically just before the break in the season, with deep flavours, fresh tannins and high natural acids."
The fermenting wine spends around two weeks on its skins and is matured in large format casks, thick stave demi-muids, and stainless steel. To capture the variety's perfume and bright fruit, it's bottled unfiltered after ten months. With the exception of a little sulphur dioxide, nothing was added. Super-aromatic, in the mouth it's medium- to full-bodied, textured and smooth at the core, yet with a vibrant raciness and punchy, spiced cherry, blackberry and tamarillo fruit flavours cut by a refreshingly cool, menthol-scented finish. Unique.