IN THE VINEYARD….This vineyard was planted in deep red Cambrian clay loam by the Chalmers family in 2011 on the lower eastern slopes of the Camel Ranges, within the Heathcote GI, close to the township of Colbinabbin. Millions of years of erosion of ancient ridgeline dolerite, ironstone and basalt has given rise to fertile ground in the lower slopes of the range and the perfect site for wines of detail and concentration. Historically this has been Shiraz country, but the increasing impacts of climate change has yielded hotter, drier summers and a move to more Mediterranean varieties, championed largely by the Chalmers family. Contrary to the approach of other growers in the region, this vineyard runs east – west, promoting more consistent exposure to sunlight across the block and better movement of air through the vines, reducing disease pressure.
Troy McInnes farms these vines and does so with care and detail not seen in many commercial growers of this scale. The site is not certified organic, but does employ many consistent practices to promote soil and vine health; undervine mulching and composting to nourish the vines and manage weed growth, with no systemic herbicides or pesticides used on site. All vine work is done by hand and each grape variety is handled uniquely with respect to varietal physiology and location within the vineyard. At harvest time, fruit sampling is regular, methodical and accurate and communication is clear…which might sound unimportant, but this allows for perfect timing of picks and quality of fruit supplied to the winery. I couldn’t ask for more from a partnership with a grower of this caliber.

IN THE WINERY…. fermented in two parts: a 3 week maceration of destemmed berries (80%) pressed and aged in seasoned barriques and a whole bunch carbonic maceration (20%) pressed after 11 days and aged in puncheons. More extractive handling on the destemmed portion of this wine to build tannin and structure, with the more fruitful component coming from the whole bunch fruit. Barrel aged for 10 months. Bottled with 30 ppm sulphur dioxide in February 2023 under Diam cork.

IN THE GLASS….aromatically this wine is all red fruit and soft spice; cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and star anise. The palate dry is with ripe fragrant fruit of cranberry, raspberry, cherry and plum. There is a lovely spice from the old oak and a long finish.  The drying Sangiovese tannins support the fruit, giving the wine great structure. Such a satisfying wine…a little deeper this year, but still fresh and fruitful. Classic Chianti (via Heathcote).