$34.00
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Region: McLaren Vale
Grapes: Shiraz
First Glance: Dark Fruit, Vivid Florals, Mid-Weight, Balanced
Acclaim: 95pts
The Wine:
From Bondars own Rayner Vineyard, where they have 10 Shiraz blocks growing on various aspects, and in soils ranging from mostly deep sand with ironstone rocks to clay over limestone. These Shiraz vines are up to 70 years old, and grow on a variety of aspects, at around 100m above sea level. This vineyard (and all of those Bondar source from) is farmed sustainably, with minimal chemical inputs.
Fermented with wild yeast, with different combinations of whole bunch and de-stemmed fruit, as well as varying time on skins depending on the block. The wines see seasoned oak only, for an average of 10 months. The blend is put together in February, and relaxes in tank for six months before bottling in August. Violet Hour is made to be as transparent as possible, to express this unique and beautiful site without excessive winemaking artefact. The majority of the vineyard has deep sandy soils, creating a lighter, fresh paired back style, yet still with subtle complexity and complete structure.
The Review:
Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion 2025 - 95pts (2022 Vintage)
“Fragrant and vivid, this comes off Rayner vineyard blocks planted mainly to deep, sandy soils. Batches are fermented with varying levels of bunches, berries and time on skins; 10 months in seasoned oak. The aim is to express the perfume that sandy soil can yield in the fruit, framed but unobstructed by elaboration to bottle. And what a success it is. Blackberry, blueberry, cherry and damson plum scented with purple florals, anise and clove, a ferrous mineral note tempering. Mid-weight, supple of texture but shored up with a fine, detailed net of tannin - and that mineral tension - this is harmonious and poised, everything serenely balanced, unstretched. To echo an earlier review, this is a tremendous bargain.”
