Tasting Notes

This is a medium bodied, vibrant wine with nashi pear and floral aromas rising from the glass. There are notes of apricots, pears and exotic fruits with ginger on the palate. The finish is clean, smooth and long. The flavours should develop with 5-10 years of aging. Pair this wine with seafood or spicy dishes such as Thai beef salad, curries or chicken.

Variety: 100% Viognier
Vintage: 2020
Harvest Date: 4th March 2020
Vineyard Location: Estate grown, north and south facing blocks.
Geology / Soil Profile: Deep, red rocky clay loam (derived from Cambrian Rock)
Viticulture Practices: Un-irrigated vineyards, zero tillage, grass sward between rows, cane pruned
Oenological Data: Yields – less than 1 tonne/acre
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.6
Production: 49 dozen (98 cases)
Bottle Packaging: 750 ml punted burgundy
Closure: Stelvin ROTP Screwcap
Cartons: 6 bottles in branded cartons 2 x 3 laydown

The 2020 Vintage:
The 2020 vintage experienced two distinct climactic phases. Winter and spring of 2019 were relatively dry. A heat wave in October disrupted flowering, which led to significantly lowered yields. In January 2020 the situation reversed; there was good rain which supported the vines to maintain healthy leaves and the fruit ripened very well. Ultimately yields were very low at harvest, but fruit quality was exceptional.

The Vineyard:
All grapes were Estate grown from our Dowd’s Lane vineyard on the Western side of the Mount Camel hillside. The vines are unirrigated and very low yielding, at less than 1 tonne to the acre. The vines are cane-pruned by hand and wrapped to a single wire trellis to encourage some bunch shading during the heat of summer.

The Winemaking:
The fruit was harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel tanks under temperature control. The wine was bottled in July 2020.