|
VINEYARD BLOCKS
Mostly from the neighbouring Keermont vineyard. A north east
facing block. 7 yr old vines on 7 wire vertical trellis, clone
SH9 on 101.14 rootstock. Soil deep red Hutton, medium potential
decomposed granite. Yield 5 ton / hect.
Lightly irrigated at veraison.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
Slightly below average winter rain was followed by above
average spring rain. This allowed for good growth up to flowering
and was followed by hot and dry conditions during berry enlargement,
ensuring smaller berries. Substantial rain (75mm) in January
was beneficial for the Shiraz, ensuring it ripened evenly
through the hot and dry weeks leading up to the harvest, producing
big, rich, concentrated wine.
Harvest date : 23 / 2 / 05 – 2 / 3 / 05 @ 23.8 - 25.5°
Balling.
PRODUCTION
Handpicking into 20 kg lugboxes. Destemming and gentle crushing
directly into small 2 ton open top fermentation tanks. Spontaneous
natural yeast fermentation @ max. 31 deg. with the cap of
skins punched down manually 2 - 4 times a day for an average
of 12 days. Wine drained directly to barrels together with
single pressing from traditional basket press.
All our red wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in the
barrel. This helps to integrate the new oak component and
fix colour and flavour compounds. 15% new French oak and 10
% new American oak was used.
Time in barrel 23 months with only a single racking.
This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered by hand.
Bottling date : 24 / 1 / 2007.
Production : 525 x 12 x 750ml
TASTING NOTES
Attractive deep red colour. Quite aromatic with dark cherry
and plum fruit complimented with white pepper, floral, nutty
and herbal notes. Full, elegant palate packed with complex
fruit and soft, ripe tannins. Finely textured with a long,
dry finish. Probably best between mid 2007 & 2015. Ideal
with a variety of herb or spice infused meat dishes.
ANALYSIS
Alc. 14.92 SG. 2.3 TA 5.4
pH 3.63 VA 0.62 SO2 35 & 101 |
