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…. Sourced from a newer planting of old Chianti clone Sangiovese (Matt 6 and 7) at Chalmers which we are lucky to have exclusive access too and work with for the first time in 2023. Destemmed berries fermented in two large open pots with daily plunges and a more extractive approach to maceration over 3 weeks. The free run from both pots drained to tank and the pressings moved to a separate tank to work off the remaining sugars. The free run juice was moved to large format oak (3000 L), with the pressings moved to seasoned barriques. Racked and returned post malo in late spring by gravity, racked again cleanly to tank during harvest and bottled with a small Sulphur addition in early April.
IN THE GLASS….aromatically this wine is all red fruit and soft spice; cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and star anise. The palate is dry 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).
– Minim Wine
