autumn-winter 2024

year of the dragon

vintage 2024 is now safely in the cellar for maturation, and in some instance finishing fermentation. Rosé and reds are finished but the usual suspect with Fiano and Greco are slow to finish the first fermentation. The activity is maintained in a temperate cellar and we expect the wines to be dry in spring. Vintage was early and compact as the temperature during picking went up to 36oC in Heathcote . Fermentations were quite vigorous and temperature controlled facility were certainly needed this year. This heat came late but was needed to concentrate the aromatics which were diluted by the heavy rain of the beginning of January .The general profile of our wines this year , is showing a bit more power with a soft acidity .

We have released a small batch of NOUVEAU , a light fruity Mourvèdre, which represent a nod to the Beaujolais nouveau ritual of the new vintage. The Bespoke rosé is now 2023, great freshness for this cool year. From the same year we are proposing the Greco , vibrant and aromatic white, the return of the Grenache, a fine grain red and a new blend , Nebbiolo-syrah which is as much the sum of its part as a totally singular wine . The Lapalus range is proposing the Fiano near Colbinabbin 2021 , and the Syrah near Vaughan Springs 2021, both drinking very well now. We have been releasing small amount of museum stock of Nebbiolo, the 2017 starting to enter a very good window of maturity and the 2018 being still vibrant and with some years ahead.

As we write these lines , all the autumnal leaves have now dropped and the vines built some reserve for the new season coming , despite a relatively dry autumn well lit by the Aurora Australis.

Hopefully the dragon will not throw too much flame on the planet.

Stay safe and drink well .

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please visit the wine store ,here, to find out more about these wines . Sante, Gilles.