Nose
The bouquet is fresh and clean with classic grassy elements typical of this region but with a
lemony minerality distinctive to this block. The nose is more complex than most SSB blends with an
underlying toasty nuance.
Palate
The palate is bright and fresh with vibrant citric, gooseberry and lychee-like flavours, all at
a level of intensity greater than expected. The oak is almost impossible to detect other than it adds a
textural dimension to what is normally a simple fresh and lively wine style. This wine has an amazing
palate extension with the flavour lingering to a clean ultra dry finish.
Growing Conditions
Vintage 2017 is over, and what a long, and strange, one it was. Every vintage is different;
lessons learned from the previous year don’t always help the following year.
The 2017 vintage started late, two to three weeks later than the preceding couple of years. Early
ripening varieties such as Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc were harvested in the first week of March.
The reason for this was the mild, cool spring weather experienced all across the southern part of the
state. This can be quite beneficial as cool ripening conditions helps maintain the fresh, bright aromas
of these early white varieties. Varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from 2017 are quite
stunning in their liveliness and flavour at relatively low alcohol levels.
Winemaking
Only the best ‘free run’ component of the juice was used resulting in the finest
and brightest fruit expression with the least amount of phenolic impact. The juice was fermented
in French oak barrels, no new oak was used so as to ensure that oak flavours and aromas were not
dominant characters in the wine. The wine was matured in barrel for 8 months before clarification
and bottling.
Appearance
Pale straw colour with fresh green tinges.
