This wine came about with the initiative of crafting the flip side of a traditional GSM from the South of Rhone. All these varieties were fermented separately, but blended together to finish malolactic fermentation as a trio in two French hogsheads where it was aged in oak for 16 months. The Mourvèdre brings a lovely soft chalky structure, dark plums, tobacco leaf, deep colour and violets. The Syrah is from the Southern end of Margaret River and brings dark cherries with some good fleshiness, sweet spices and white pepper. The Grenache adds some raspberries, fresh acidity, grainy tannins and savouriness with notes of leather. This wine will age really well and become even more intriguing over time. It will compliment any robust meat or game dishes or food rich in spices.
Being our two favourite varieties, it was destined for us to try and marry them together in a beautiful duo. The Pinot Noir (70% of blend) spent about 4 days on skins cold soaking where it was taken to barrel and wild fermented on high solids in French oak. The Chardonnay (30% of blend) was gently pressed, settled and also wild fermented on high solids in French oak. The nose expresses some lovely barrel ferment characters including sweet spices, dark cherries, little bit of funk and biscuity nuances. The pallet shows a generous sweet viscosity and rich flavours of cherry clafoutis, sweet cedar spices and camarosa strawberries, cream and waffle cone.
This wine goes really well with seared salmon and mash potato, roast chicken or creamy pasta with mushrooms and parmesan. It can be enjoyed at room temperature or very slightly chilled.
We thought of going full swing with our first Pet Nat and craft it from some of the finest Chardonnay fruit in Wallcliffe, Margaret River. This wine had absolutely no additives or sulphur added during processing, during fermentation or thereafter. The fruit was gently pressed and only the free run portion was used in this wine. The fermentation was 100% natural from indigenous yeast from the vineyard in a very small stainless steel tank which produced a long cool ferment. The wine has luscious white stone fruit flavours with some underlining lemon curd characteristics which brings a lovely soft and lingering acidity. This natural sparkling is very generous and extremely moreish. (45 cases produced)