Varietal: 100% Grenache
Region: Barossa Valley
Vineyards: Kleemann & Three Springs Vineyards
Vines: Centenarian Bush Vines (1916), Survivor Vines (1926)
Oak: New & twice aged French oak puncheons
Analysis:
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
pH: 3.51
Titratable acid: 5.5g/L
Food Pairing: Veal scalloppini or peking duck pancakes
Cellaring: Drink now to 2030
Dark ruby in colour. Lifted aromas of slightly darker berry fruit,there is a fleeting, unmistakable glimpse of strawberries and cream both on the nose and the palate. This fruit presence provides a genuine sense of smoothness and balance with no sharp angles to stop the travel or sense of enjoyment through the mouth. There are some teasing secondary floral and spice flavours before it is all pinned in just around the edges to ensure that the wine remains gently focused.
Hand harvested, berry and bunch sorted and wholly destemmed. The wine is placed into traditional open top fermenters where the wine underwent a pre-fermentation cold soak before being gently pumped over to obtain optimal colour and retain complex fruit flavours.
Additional post fermentation maceration occured before the wine was then drained and pressed to barrel. Free run and pressings are kept separate and a combination of new and seasoned 600 litre puncheons are used for a maturation of between 12 months. The wine is then prepared for bottling before seeing some further time in bottle prior to release.
Planted in 1916 the Centenarian bush vines in the Kleenman Vineyard grow high on the Eastern hills overlooking Rowland Flat. The low-yielding, hardy vines grow untrelissed and are constantly exposed to the elements. The premium grapes are hand-picked the way they have been for over a hundred years. The Three Springs vineyard is located on the site of the original Schild family estate. Situated on historic Narrow Road at Rowland Flat, this vineyard sits at 300 metres above sea level. The bush vines planted in 1926 are classified as ‘Survivor Vines’ in the Barossa Old Vine Charter.
2020 was a year that presented some early season challenges. A lack of rainfall and heat meant yields were significantly lower than average. However, almost ideal conditions prevailed towards the back end of the growing season in late January and February. These were a welcome arrival allowing grapevines to relax and flavours to develop slowly and steadily towards the onset of harvest. In addition, the milder late season conditions ensured that natural acid levels remained high, and winemakers had time in which to operate and make optimum harvest decisions. Small yields but genuinely high quality were the hallmarks of 2020.
