Nose
Savoury elements typical of this variety with some spicy meaty characters in a bouquet of
great complexity.
Palate
A dry earthy palate with savoury flavours and a dry richly textured finish. Medium
weight this wine typifies the southern European styles of wine with the emphasis on the textural
components rather than overt fruitiness. The fruit expression is more reminiscent of spices and
herbs rather than the berry and plum components of most traditional Australian red wines.
Growing Conditions
Following a good winter was a mild and calm spring with generally good weather during the crucial
flowering period, that is the stage at which the flowers are fertilized and begin to form individual
grape berries. This stage can often be quite wild and stormy leading to significant loss of fruit. The
beginning of summer was mild, almost perfect growing conditions. There was a small rain event in
January which may have caused consternation had it continued but it was mercifully brief leading to
several months of virtually rain free weather.
March was mild, with perhaps only three days of intense heat, ideal conditions for the development
of the red grapes, with harvesting beginning middle of March through to the middle of April. The
weather broke in late April but by then the vast majority of reds had been harvested. Good colours,
ripe aromas and flavours and good structural tannins across all red varieties.
Winemaking
The grapes were de-stemmed and fermented in open vessels with extensive pump
over cap management to aid colour and flavour extraction as well as optimise the tannin development.
The wine was pressed off skins and matured in French oak barriques, approximately one third new
oak with the balance one and two year old for about 15 months.
Appearance
Medium density red hues.
