This wine is reflective of its cool climate region and a cool vintage. Intense, lifted aromatics of white clove, florals and alpine herbs transition to red and black fruits of mulberry, plum and blackberry and background nuances of licorice and cocoa. Medium to full bodied, the palate opens with ripe mulberry, plum and blackberry fruit all interwoven with hints of dark chocolate, graphite and five-spice. The elegant tapestry of flavours are threaded over a core of acid and wonderful fine-grained tannins that are seamless with a lingering structured farewell. This Shiraz will certainly reward those with patience and who appreciate beauty.
Harvested from our Estate vineyard in the cool morning on the 30th of March, the low yielding grapes reached optimum flavour and tannin ripeness at a baumé of 14.3. The grapes were destemmed, crushed and chilled to <10°C to a static red fermenter, where they were cold soaked for 5 days, allowing time for the slow extraction of colour and flavour out of the skins. The must was inoculated with specially selected yeast strain and fermented for ten days reaching a peak of 26°C. After a further seven days of post fermentation time of skins to refine the structural grape and see tannins, the wine was pressed off directly to oak barrels, with 20% being new French oak barrels. The wine underwent secondary fermentation in barrel, allowing oak to be integrated into the wine. During 15 months of maturation, the wine was minimally handled to preserve the unique characters that our region and vineyard bestows on this individual wine.
THE VINTAGE
The 2022 vintage was a challenging growing season with unpredictable rainfall events from the start of Spring to the end of Summer. Coupled with lower than average temperatures it was a team effort by our experienced staff who have an intimate knowledge of our environment and how to nurture vines, that allowed us to produce the highest quality grapes. While the quantity of grapes was down in 2022, the quality was fantastic.
THE WINEMAKER
Toni Pla Bou
THE RANGE
HIGH COUNTRY
Rich in history and personality, the wines are an expression of the true potential of the cool climate Alpine Valleys wine region, embracing its unique terroir, whilst capturing the individual character of each variety. The wines are thoughtfully crafted, harmonious, age-worthy and a pure expression of the Victorian High Country.
