Blend

100% Syrah

Vineyard

Bridgeland Vineyard, Karridale

Winemaking Note

Roughly half the block was hand-picked and de-stemmed, with the berries left uncrushed to preserve the natural fruit perfumes and allow for slow, controlled tannin and flavour extraction. A third of the stalks yielded from the destemming processes were added back to the must to promote extraction of spicier flavours and more savoury fruit characters and textures. 4 days later the other half of the block was hand-picked and de-stemmed, with the berries left un-crushed to preserve the natural fruit perfumes and allow for slow, controlled tannin and flavour extraction. The ferments were kept cold and pumped over twice a day for 8 days. The still-fermenting wines were then gently separated from their skins and allowed to finish ferment in a mix of old and new Burgundian-style oak barrels. The wines were then aged separately in oak for 14 months before bottling.

Vintage Conditions

January 2017 temperatures were similar to historical data for the area, in contrast, February and March were a fraction cooler. Those who risked all by waiting for the Indian Summer were rewarded with the retention of the most beautiful fruit perfumes at relatively low sugar levels. The 2017 vintage highlighted the importance of best practice vineyard management, focusing on the basics of open and well solarised canopies, with balanced crop loads, so that the fruit could ripen at a reasonable pace.

Aroma

White pepper corns, cured meat and cherries.

Palate

A spicy entry of red fruits and meat spice, balanced with bright tannins and flavours of plum blossom and cracked allspice. A velure finish of fine tannin, hints of rose water and freshly ground coffee leaves the palate awash in minerality and succulent natural acidity.

Cellaring

Up to 8 years, however we enjoy it now.

Alcohol

14%

Accolades

94/100 - Halliday Wine Companion 2023
94/100 - Ray Jordan, WA Wine Guide, 2023