Awards and Accolades

89 Points - Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front
"This fits the bill. It’s super fresh and has impressive depth and flavour. Tick and tick. Cherries, plums, peppercorns and cola. Peppercorn flavour here is strong but its backed by a ball of fruit. Length isn't exactly outstanding but there’s enough here to recommend it, and easily.”

2016 Vintage: SILVER - International Wine Challenge 2017

2016 Vintage: 90 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
"Made in a joven style, fresh and vibrant rather than deep and meaningful. Crunchy red cherry is the order of the day, the finish bright and breezy."

From the Winery

Vintage 2017 in the McLaren Vale Wine Region was judged highly successful for both grape growers, who had above average crops with minimal faults, and winemakers who had the ability to pick fruit as they required during an extended dry autumn.

Winter weather conditions help set up the early growth of our vineyards with above average rainfall leading to full soil profiles. Spring was also significantly wetter than average. There were notable large storms and high winds with frequent low-pressure fronts moving through the region.

Fortunately, the weather patterns during flowering were relatively stable and dry. Spring temperatures were cooler than average and flowering was delayed by 14-21 days compared to recent seasons, while veraison was also delayed. Harvest began later than in 2016, with very few vineyards picked in February, with picking continuing into late April

After a gentle de-stemming the whole berries were fermented in small fermenters, carefully hand-plunged and sometimes foot trodden to coax colour and flavour from the skins with natural ferment and minimal additions. Once ferment was complete the wine was basket-pressed and racked to old French oak barrels for 4 months before bottling. The resultant wine reflects our philosophy of letting the McLaren Vale soils and environment express themselves through the wine.