Palate
Fruit notes of poached strawberries and peach flesh swirled with cream. These fine flavours of just ripe berries and early season stone fruits give a gentle sweetness and crispness to the palate. A soft mineral texture from time in oak, deftly adds weight and complexity.
Growing Conditions
As the seemingly, never-ending vintage of 2017 came to a close in early May, we reflect on a most unusual season. The cold, wet winter and spring of 2016 with annual rainfall above the averages of the past decade, set the stage. Budburst and early spring growth were slow, and it became evident early on, the start to vintage would be delayed by 3 to 4 weeks. In addition, early yield estimates were above average.
Anecdotes of the very cool 2006 vintage began to circulate as summer progressed in the same, mild fashion. The one bright light was the comparative data of heat summation between 2006 and 2017 with 2017 still tracking, warmer. But were we heading for the perfect calamity of high yields in a cool, wet season?
Fungal diseases began to thrive in the humid and cool conditions as the white harvest began. Careful fruit selection, fruit removal and some early harvesting were necessary to retain quality. Across the regions, it was evident some whites would not reach maturity and would remain on the vine.
By late March, the tone of the vintage was less than upbeat as the heavens opened. The reds were teetering on the edge of disaster, any further rain could turn them into slush, and our worst fears would be realized! As the mud dried, an Indian summer was desperately needed and thankfully April delivered with unseasonal dry, warm conditions throughout.
Winemaking
Harvest: late March 2017 . The Shiraz and the Pinot Noir are vinified separately. After machine harvest, the grapes are destemmed, sorted and must chilled to the press for immediate pressing to minimize colour extraction. A free run cut of 500 l.t is settled bright before fermentation. A small portion is barrel fermented in old red oak on light white juice lees and may go through some malolactic. The blend is assembled just prior to bottling and is minimally fined and filtered.
Appearance
A shining rose gold in colour.
