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A translucent bright cherry colour, this elegant wine offers engaging aromatics of soft red fruits, rose petal, fennel and exotic spices.
The vibrant cranberry and raspberry fruit of the palate is layered with sweet oak tannins to build a complexity of texture, flavour and structure in the wine. A finish of clean, refreshing acidity is supportive and balanced.
Vintage
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 average, set the stage.
Budburst and early spring growth were slow, and it became evident 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 appearing to be warmer.
But were we heading for the perfect calamity of high yields in a cool, wet season?Fungal diseases thrived in the humid and cool conditions as the white harvest began. Careful fruit selection, removal and some early harvesting were necessary to retain quality. Across the regions, it was evident some whites would not reach maturity and 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 realised. As the mud dried, an Indian summer was desperately needed and thankfully April delivered with unseasonably dry, warm conditions throughout. This prolonged, ripening phase allowed the flavours to develop fully, and the tannins to soften and integrate.
Vintage is well over now, and from a vintage of highs and lows, the outcomes are beyond our expectations. Whites have retained purity and vibrancy, and the reds stunning concentration, beautifully soft tannins and silky mouthfeel. It was worth the tension!
