Some vineyards have a remarkable story to tell and we came upon such a vineyard in late 2016. At the Seaview end of Chapel Hill Rd, its old bush vines contrasted by a planting of much younger Grenache. Apparently, half of the vineyard was burned when a bird caught light on a power line, fell to the ground and set light to the vineyard! We were so glad that some of the amazing old vines are still there for us to use.

2020 vintage conditions in were perfect in many ways. A warm , dry early season gave way to a mild, sometimes cool, February and March which allowed for ripening at a very relaxed pace. Small yields across all regions concentrated the fruit flavours while the dry conditions led to low disease pressures. Picked on the 6th March, this vineyard offered us a tiny quantity of incredible fruit.

Sadly, the season will also be remembered for the devastating bushfires that preceded it and the unprecedented global Covid pandemic that struck right in the middle of vintage. A remarkable season in many ways and one that we hope will be remembered for all the right reasons when you taste the wines.

Dry grown, old bush vines, grown on red-brown sandy loams with quartz and ironstone. Low intervention viticulture with minimal spray regime, cover crops and promotion of biodiversity.

The fruit was hand-picked early in the morning of 6th March before swift transport to the winery where we retained 50% whole bunches. A gentle foot pressing helped establish the wild ferment. Once fermented, the wine was transferred to 300 litre used French oak hogsheads where it stayed for 6 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Aromatic and lifted on the nose with a beautifully layered, textural palate with wild strawberry and spice.