Place

Carefully selected from vineyards across the Clare Valley.

Vintage Conditions

Good late-winter and early-spring rains allowed soil profiles to be full, giving the vines a great start to the growing season. Dry conditions prevailed from November onwards, with rainfall well below average for the remainder of the growing season. Weather conditions from mid-to-late November were ideal for flowering and fruit set. With some of the best conditions seen in the last ten years, a remarkably cool summer followed, providing perfect
conditions for healthy balanced vines. The long ripening period produced fruit with a perfect balance of good colour, high natural acidity and concentrated flavours.

Winemaking

Fifteen months in French oak; both large format (puncheons) and hogs head. 7% New French Oak. Harvested separately at optimum flavour ripeness and vinified in small open fermenters, where time honoured techniques of hand plunging, délestage and basket pressing were used to gently extract colour, flavour and tannin from the skins. Once pressed, each batch is matured for fifteen months in seasoned French oak before the final cuvée is assembled.