2006 merlot ( blue label)

A long dry vintage after a glorious spring; so all well with the world.
Block 2, on slightly lighter soil, produced a low crop but still kept its natural clarity of fruit. Hand picked and fermented in our usual non- interventionist manner in open vats before maturing in French hogs heads for 12 months with only a light fining with free range egg whites before minimal filtration and bottling; just hate interfering with good grapes.
Damsons and dark fruitcake, thickly textured palate and plush finish with some oak spice tucked well into the background. This wine will evolve well over the next 3-7 years under good cellaring conditions.

Alc std drinks pres 220
estate grown from sustainable vineyards under organic conversion.

2006 reserve merlot ( new classique label)

Our 1.2 Ha dry land block of merlot, after a glorious spring and long dry vintage, decided to produce the paltry sum of 120 cases- but what a wine. The fruit was hand picked and fermented in our usual non- interventionist manner in open vats, before maturing in new French puncheons for 12 months with only a light egg white fining before bottling unfiltered.
As dark, brooding and muscular as a Barbara Cartland hero with locked -in flavours of black fruits, earth and allspice , densely structured palate with noticeably muscular tannin framework. Just don’t know where all that new oak went- it’s in there somewhere.
Needs decanting as a youngster- try in about 5 years with game.(will probably open up and have a meaningful conversation in about 10 years)

Alc std drinks pres 220
estate grown from sustainable vineyards under organic conversion.

2006 Shiraz ( brown label)

Growing dry land and untrellised emphasizes the distinct differences in terroir we have between our 2 Shiraz blocks.
Block 8, which produces this Shiraz, with its greater proportion of clay and sand, has a completely different tannin structure and fruit flavour.
The fruit was hand picked and fermented in our usual non- interventionist manner in open vats, before maturing in American oak casks(2250 lts) for 12 months with only a light egg white fining before bottling.
Almost blueberry- like aromatics as a young wine, it seems to suit the vanillan undertones of American oak, though the use of large casks keeps this well in tune. Fabulous natural tannin structure and plump middle palate will gain an earthy undertone and interesting complexity with middle age. Needs lamb.

Alc std drinks pres 220
estate grown from vineyards under organic conversion.

2006 Reserve Shiraz ( new classique label)

Just love this block; close planting, and the resulting 360 deg dappled shade-and quartz and shale based soils give such a fragrant floral edge to the fruit from this dryland, untrellised vineyard.
We have a lot of fun with this fruit as well, now we are confident in the terroir of this site. So 1/3 of the crop was a wild ferment for texture and mouth feel and sheer unpredicatability. The remainder was fermented using whole bunches layered with crushed fruit and a Rhone yeast. Maturation was in new and second use French puncheons for 14 months before free range egg white fining and bottling without filtration. Violet aromatics , a slightly funky edge and fabulous tannin framework with just a hint of stem. Slightly austere at first, the mid palate grows and grows on decanting. Will be blossoming in 7-10 years.

Alc std drinks pres 220
estate grown from sustainable vineyards under organic conversion.

2006 Zinfandel (classique label)

A long dry vintage after a glorious spring; so all's well with the world and nicely illustrated in this zin. Our dryland bush vine zinfandel is highly demanding of our time and requires endless thining and fussing but the results are worth it. The fruit was hand picked and fermented in our usual non-interventionist manner in open vats, before maturing in 2250 litre American oak casks before a little egg white fining before bottling unfiltered. A densley aromatic nose cramming in fruitcake, allspice, cinnamon, black olive & cedar. Palate rich & chunky, oak nicely in tune. Not a monster though: surprisingly elegant when it decides to open up.

A lovely wine - worth all the effort!