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The north facing Windmill Vineyard slopes down off the Thompson’s Lane ridge, sheltered from the prevailing winds off the cold waters of Bass Strait. It is the classic paradox of a warm site in a cool location. Yielding a small crop of 3.3 tonnes/ha, the fruit was picked in two lots in 2021; the lower trellis fruit was picked on April 7th and fermented as whole bunches, whilst the higher trellis fruit was picked on April 8th and fermented without stems. The two components were matured separately for almost 9 months in French oak puncheons, with the final blend for this wine containing 25% new oak and no whole bunch component.
The wine is closed to start then opens with lifted earth aromas with red roses, dark cherries, ironstone and dried herbs. The palate presents rounded dark fruit flavours with fine silky tannins. Drinking well as a young wine, it will continue to soften and develop complex secondary aromas in the next 5 years or more.
Bottled in January 2022. 183 dozen made.
97 points, James Halliday Wine Companion, 2023
