Tasting Notes 2011
Syrah Gran Reserva 2010, Casablanca Valley
Vineyard : All fruit was sourced from our own vineyard - located within the coolest, westernmost reaches of the Casablanca Valley. A blend of three different clones of Sauvignon Blanc (52% clone 1, 40% clone 242 and 8% clone 107) from 8 to 18 year old vines. Sourced from two different soil types within the vineyard (95% from a clay loam and 5% from a red clay mixed with decomposed granite). The blocks used in this blend were cropped at an average of 7 tonnes per hectare (2.8 t/acre).
Harvest : The grapes were carefully machine harvested at night, with an ambient temperature of between 4 and 8ºC (39 to 46ºF) between March 28th and April 21st, 2011.
Vinification : On arrival at the winery all grapes were first destemmed and crushed to stainless steel tanks (via a chiller in order to drop the temperature to 5ºC or 41ºF) where they were then left to cold soak for 48 hours. Following this time the free-run juice was drained by gravity from the tanks. The remaining skins and juice were then dug-out and gently squeezed using pneumatic presses in order to separate light from hard pressings. The resulting juices were then left to cold settle (at 12ºC/54ºF) for 4 days following which time 95% of the blend was racked to stainless steel tanks, inoculated with selected yeasts and ultra-cool fermented (reaching temperatures as low as 8ºC/46ºF at the peak of the fermentation). Following fermentation this component was aged for 2 months on gross lees (without stirring) before blending.
The remaining 5% of the blend was fermented with selected yeasts in 4th and 5th use French oak barrels with temperatures peaking at 22ºC/72ºF. Post fermentation the barrels were stirred weekly in order to encourage lees break-down and the subsequent pick-up of “yeasty” characters in the wine. After two months the barrel component was blended with the tank fermented component, cold stabilised, filtered and bottled.
Tasting Notes : On the nose intense notes of lime and white peach dominate with just a hint of green jalapeño chilli. In the mouth, fresh flavours of nectarine, ginger and white pepper are backed up by a bright, zesty acidity which imparts excellent structure and length.
Wine Analysis :
