Tempranillo - 2006

Hastwell & Lightfoot Tempranillo

McLaren Vale, Australia

Tasting Note: 100% McLaren Vale fruit - Estate grown

COLOUR: Intensely dark ruby red with vivid violet hues.

AROMA: Lifted fresh fruity aromas of black cherry and spicy herbs.

PALATE: Spicy cherry fruit flavours with a very rich mid palate mouth feel and smooth long tannins. The use of old barriques has preserved the distinct varietal fruit characteristics of this wine. A powerful fruit driven style.

AWARDS

Nick Stock [Penguin] 90 pts

Wine Background

 

Vineyard Site

The top of the north side hills of McLaren Vale. Short rows running down

from the top of the ridge. The profile is very deep sand. The site is protected from hot north winds by an old pine forest capping the hill.

Planted

2000. 3 acres on rootstocks to promote vine vigour.

Trellis

Single cordon with a catching wire to lift the canopy.

Irrigation

Drip @ 9 litres a vine every 3 days.

Season

The sort of season that makes McLaren Vale such a great region.

Good winter & spring rains followed by a generally moderate temperature summer.

Harvest

Picked March 23.

13.5 Be. 4.5 tonnes to the acre.

Winemaking

Fermented in 2 tonne open fermenters with heading down boards and pump overs.

Temperature controlled to 18 to 22 degrees. Ferment period 9 days.

Pressed out with a basket press.

Maturation

This was over a 18 month period in 3, 4 and 5 year old American barriques, no new wood, to ensure fruit flavours were retained.

Bottled

January 16 2008

Alc. 14.5 pH 3.37 TA 6.6