The Wine: The 2022 vintage was similar to 2021, with La Nina driving a cooler summer and autumn than usual. Thankfully the wet conditions that can also be a feature of this weather pattern missed us in McLaren Vale, instead drenching the north of our state and infamously the east coast of Australia. The cooler conditions pushed the start of the vintage out by two weeks, into the shorter days/longer nights of Autumn. Yields were down, but in the cool conditions ripening was even and slow, with natural acids remaining very high. The resulting wines are delicate with savoury nuance and some structure from the extended hang time of the cooler year.
The grapes were picked at the end of March, a good few weeks after Shiraz, with still very high acidity, inherent to the variety. Half of the grapes were destemmed, fermented with wild yeast and moved to old oak barrels for elevage. The other half was fermented as whole bunches and left on skins in ceramic egg for 3 months. The two parcels were then blended and bottled in October. The young vines and whole bunch technique give a lighter feel, with freshness and soft structure. An ideal red for the summer months with a slight chill.
