Place

Carefully selected from vineyards across the Clare Valley.

Vintage Conditions

After an average winter rainfall, our soil profile was full, giving the vines a great start to the growing season. Following early bud burst, a bad frost event hit some parts of the valley in late October. This gave way to a warm dry start to Spring. Early summer rains set up the growing season that evolved into a mild but very dry vintage. These conditions slowed the ripening of the grapes. With the later picking days in the milder conditions, the grapes were rich in flavour and held their bright natural acidities. These factors were ideal for the varieties, creating the perfect setting for a superb vintage.

Winemaking

Fifteen months in French oak; both large format (puncheons) and hogs head. 10% 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.