The wine is 73% Clone 95 with the remainder
being Clone 15. Harvested at 22° brix, it is a relatively modest 13% alcohol
(the 2006 was 14.5%). After barrel fermentation with wild yeasts it was aged on
the lees for 14 months with fortnightly stirring in 35% new French oak before
being finished in tank on light lees for another 8 months.
A lovely straw/yellow in colour the nose
immediately showed that this is a serious wine. Overlaying the ripe stonefruit
characters were cashew and hazelnuts, fresh baked bread and mineral hints, more
savoury than fruity. These flavours carried through to the palate with superb
texture, weight and length. This is very impressive wine, the winery thinks it
will cellar for five to seven years but I would think it will easily last
longer than that. Al Morris