Description
Shiraz 89%, Grenache 7% Mourvèdre 3%, Viognier 1%
Clones: SH1, SH22, MT11, VI642
Rootstock: R99 and Mgt 101-14
Age: Average 9 years
Soil: Structured red soils with coarse gravel and weathered shale soils
Yield: 4,5 tons per hectare (31 hl/ha)
Balling: 25.5B
pH: 3,30 3,60
Total acid: 6,0 7,8 g/l
Fermentation
The grapes were hand-picked in the early morning and force cooled to 4 °C. The Shiraz and
Mourvèdre components were then bunch sorted, destemmed and berry sorted on vibration
tables by 25 highly trained staff. The berries were gently crushed into a satellite tank and
deposited separately in open fermenters. The must was de-juiced by 12%. It was given a cold
soak of 4 days at 9 °C protected by a CO2 blanket. The juice was pumped over once daily during
this period.
The Shiraz and Mourvèdre tanks were then heated to 18 °C and inoculated with BM45, L2056
and D254 yeast. The fermentation temperature was allowed to peak at 28 °C and then brought
down to 24 °C. The fermenting cap was manually punched down three times and one
pumpover daily. The Shiraz was given extended maceration after fermentation for 18 days total
on the skins and then pressed into 100% new Allier French oak barrels. The Mourvèdre was
pressed at 0ºB and finished fermentation in barrels. The Viognier was cold fermented
separately in barrels. The press fractions were separated. Malolactic bacteria were inoculated
and malolactic fermentation was completed in the barrel.
After malolactic fermentation the wines were given a low sulphur dose and left on gross lees for
11 months. The wine was then racked, the different components blended and returned to
barrels. After a total of 19 months in barrels the wine was racked and filtered through a coarse
sheet filter. Bottling was done with a fine sheet filtration. The wine was bottle matured for 12
months prior to release.
Analysis
Alcohol: 14,37 vol %
Total acid: 6,3 g/l
pH: 3,44
Residual sugar: 3,6 g/l
Volatile acidity: 0,63 g/l
Free sulphur: 27 mg/l
Total sulphur: 103 mg/l
This acclaimed wine has a deep, dark purple colour with prominent ripe plum, red berry
flavours combined with floral notes and undertones of spice. The oak is well balanced with full,
firm yet accessible tannins. A wine of depth, complexity and grace.
