The 2024 season threw up a little bit of everything! It began with a lovely dry and relatively calm November leading to good flowering and fruitset for the vines. The dry start was quickly replaced by one of the wettest December and January periods we have seen with 282mm of rain falling over these two months. With the soils brimming with water, the vines green and with plenty of vegetative growth, we slipped into the driest February and March we have experienced, with a mere 10mm of rain falling. The large canopies coupled with the hot and somewhat late summer powered the beautiful bunches through to ripeness with harvest coming early and finishing fast—completed in a two and a half week period across the whole vineyard.

Brilliant bright crimson red, electric purple hues. The seductive floral aromatics drive the sensory introduction supported by freshly picked boysenberry and blueberry with star anise and subtle spice. The palate is lithe and alive with lashings of blue and red fruits, red liquorice, fennel seed, curry leaf, shaved dark chocolate and savoury spice underpinned by cacao like, powdery tannin. The oak is subtle and plays a supporting role, the finish lingers long after the last sip

Our steep front block of Shiraz was handpicked in early March and the whole fruit immediately placed in the cool room. The following day 90% of the fruit was destemmed and 10% left as whole bunches. The whole bunches were were sandwiched in the fermenter by destemmed berries. Once fermentation commenced the cap was gently extracted twice a day and remained on its skins for 14 days. At the completion of ferment, the wine was pressed to tank and then racked to old French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. After 7 months in barrel, the blend was assembled with no fining and was bottled in November 2024.

Perfectly paired with light meats, peking duck or some pecorino cheese.