Paxton Grenache 2019

COLOUR: Ruby red with light pink hues

AROMA: A perfumed floral fragrance of strawberries and raspberries. Bright red fruits jump from the glass showing excellent varietal expression

PALATE: Light to medium bodied wine with a crunchy lively red berry flavour. Hints of savoury spice arising from whole bunch fermentation to add slight grip and texture and creates wonderful length on the palate.

DRINK WITH: Spicy Asian or Indian dishes

CELLARING: This wine can be enjoyed young, however careful cellaring for 5-10 years will be rewarded

 

WINEMAKING & VINTAGE

VINTAGE:

2019 Vintage saw below average rainfall over spring and virtually no rain during summer leading to a heavy reliance on irrigation. This together with a severe hail storm in November, the hottest day in South Australia since 2009 and regular maximum temperatures over 36 degree Celsius in February made for some challenges. However, our close proximity to the St Vincent Gulf did help moderate some extreme weather events. All in all we saw smaller tonnages with more intense flavour in the fruit. Another consistent year for Pinot Gris and Grenache, with early signs the Shiraz will carry great density of fruit flavours moving forward.

 

VINIFICATION:

Hand picked at optimum sugar and flavour balance, 20% of the harvest was used as whole bunches, with the remainder gently de-stemmed. A slow, cool ferment helped capture the character of the vineyard and a combination of pump overs and plunging for 10-14 days enhanced the tannin profile. When fermentation was finished the must was pressed to mature French oak barriques for maturation of six months prior to blending and bottling.

 

VARIETY: Grenache

100%: Organic | Biodynamic

REGION: McLaren Vale

VINEYARD: Landcross Farm

ALCOHOL: 14.0%

WINEMAKER: Richard Freebairn