Vintage : 2020
Country : Australlia
Region : Barossa Valley
Bottle Size : 750ml
Tasting Notes
A deep intensely flavoured wine that has come into its own with age. It opens with forest fruits, dried herbs and a savoury edge, with long, chalky tannins. We feel this is now entering its perfect drinking window. Best enjoyed from now through the next 4 to 8 years.
The Vineyard
The Cutting Vineyard is a hilltop site in the prestigious Stone Well sub-region. At 265 meters elevation with a moderate north-easterly aspect, the vineyard benefits from cooling south-easterly winds that provide relief during the peak heat of January and February.
The site features red sandstone peppered with buckshot ironstone over a limestone base of rock and schist. This diverse soil profile contributes remarkable complexity to the fruit.
Planted in 1998/1999, the vineyard has been meticulously hand-tended for over 25 years. Every vine is carefully managed to produce fruit of exceptional quality and distinctive Stone Well character.
The Vintage
A season defined by extremes. Relentless spring winds hit early. Frost, rain and heat spikes followed. Fruit set was brutal and our yields dropped by roughly 60% on average.
December turned up the heat further. Its final fortnight alone brought 11 days over 35°C. Then January and a cooler-than-usual February offered relief. The small, concentrated crop ripened slowly and steadily. After months of extremes, February was the calm after the storm.
The Winemaking
100% handpicked, then crushed with 30% retained as whole bunches.
The juice was cold soaked for seven days to extract colour and flavour, then fermented in open-top fermenters.
Pressed off skins using a basket press, the wine was transferred directly to a combination of older French oak barriques and hogsheads.
Once malolactic fermentation was complete, the wine was racked off gross lees and aged for 18 months.
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The Perfect Pairing
Osso Bucco | Lamb | Tomato Based Dishes
Technical Information
Bottling date: November 2021
Harvest Date: 29th February 2020
Alc: 14.5 %
