Winemaking:
Gently crushed into fermenter tubs, with a proportion of whole berries but no stalks, seeded with a low level of yeast culture and allowed to ferment. Plunging four times daily. No chilling. Ferment up to 30°C on skins for 15 days. Pressed to barrel with pressings included. Racked to clarify. MLF in barrel.
Vintage:
Excellent growing season with mild temperatures (1202 Heat degree days) and 236 mm of rain from October to end February. Harvest on 4th March which is early, partly due to the extremely low crop levels (0.6 kg per vine).
Low crops mean flavour concentration, early ripening and generally good acid levels because ripening is relatively quick. If ripening is prolonged it leaves time for the natural acids to metabolise and be lost. We rarely need to add acid which I feel is a major advantage for our vineyard. Natural acids are tight and harmonious.