Winemaking

The 2012 stage 7 shiraz is grown on a crabhole gilgia soil profile in the upper eastern most reaches of our McLaren Flat vineyard. The soils are bony, tough and unforgiving which means the wine naturally displays structure and finesse. Stage 7 is surrounded by 150-500 year old gums trees, which adds to the biodiversity of the site. The 2012 Shiraz was fermented naturally in open fermenters, pressing o skins once the fermentation is completed, which in this case took 18 days. Ageing occurred in 100% French oak barrels ranging in size from puncheons (500L) to barriques (225L) for 22 months maturation. No racking occurred in this time, so the wine has been aged on its lees, allowing sulphur additions to be kept to a minimum and the true character of the wine to blossom.

Vintage Notes

The 2012 growing season presented us with good winter and spring rains. The warm days and cool nights leading up to harvest saw near perfect growing conditions. The resulting wine shows classic McLaren Vale Shiraz characteristics; fruit drive, sweetness, with a tightly bound structure of acid and tannin.