Les Fruits, Occitan 2018 750ml

Personality: Garrigue look-a-like notes – dried mint, thyme, and pine sap, outlined by some ripe black fruits. The palate continues this theme adding in the characteristic saltiness of this site. Bold yet crunchy and drinkable.

Vineyard: Wayne Ahrens’ Vine Vale block in the eastern Barossa, certified biodynamic. Relatively flat with consistent deep sand over clay soil. The age of the vines ranges from 90 years (possibly up to 140, Wayne says) for the Mourvèdre, approximately 50 years for Syrah and Grenache, and 10 years for the Carignan. Or, so-called Carignan, now thought to actually be the Portuguese variety Bonverdo.

Making of: All grapes were hand-harvested. Three ferments – the Syrah was 50% whole bunch 50% hand destemmed, the “Carignan” underwent a 100% carbonic (whole bunch), the Grenache and Mourvèdre co-fermented. Foot treading then gentle hand plunging. Syrah and Carignan pressed before dryness. Aged in a range of barrels, all old neutral French, including ‘Ol’ Stony’, a 70+-year-old reconditioned 1100 barrel from the now-demolished Stonyfell winery. Racked to tank, lightly sulfured. Refrigerated until bottling in late February.

Winemaker's Note: This red blend style and name are inspired by Tim’s passion for Mediterranean wines: “Brisk acidity, fine raspy whole bunch tannins, a thick texture and rich flavors down the back of the throat. The dark fruit is really a background vibe with savory-sweet leather, earth, dried thyme, and rosemary stalk notes dominating. Proof that we can grow and make wines that talk of their terroir in the European sense?”