Wine Background

Vineyard site

300 metre rows running up a south facing hill, sand over clay at the bottom, sand over more sand at the top.

Planted

The vines were planted in 1996, the clone 1654 on K51 32 rootstock. 3 acres.

Trellis

Wide space 2 vertical wires 900mm apart allowing good airflow, light and fruit separation.

Season

Weather had strong influences on this vintage, no substantial rains in winter & spring 06 resulted in a low fruit set. Followed by a dry and slightly warmer summer lead to early fruit ripening.

Harvest

Fruit was picked February 25 @ 14.4Be, 3.5 tonnes to the acre.

Winemaking

Ferment was in 2 tonne open fermenters with heading down boards and temperature controlled to 16 to 22 degrees giving extended skin contact. The wine was then pressed in a small basket press.

Maturation

It had 20 months in American oak, 22% of it new, the rest 2 to 4 years old with 4 different cooperages used to add variation in the oak extractions.

Bottled

17 February 2009

Alc. 14.5 pH 3.54 TA 6.7 RS 1.3