Garden Gully Syrah

The grapes are handpicked from vines planted in the 1890’s in the Great Western region of Central Victoria, 200 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Syrah vines are ‘Old Best’s’ clone on the ‘Concongella’ soil profile which is clay over ironstone. The climate is Mediterranean, with proximity to the Southern Ocean providing a cooling influence during summer. The growing season is characterised by warm to hot days, but cool nights. Autumn is mild, and the region is especially well-suited to later ripening red varieties, particularly Shiraz.
 
Viticulture is biological, using some biodynamic and organic practices where they see empirical benefits, and no systemic pesticides or fungicides are used.

Fermented as 75% whole bunches with the indigenous years, and a 40 day extended maceration. Racked into one to two-year-old French hogsheads and puncheons and left sur lees for 15 months. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. No acid, enzymes or additives other than a small amount of sulphur dioxide are used in production.
 
Dark purple. An exotically perfumed nose of candied fruits,olive, sandalwood and peppery spices. Juicy, penetrating blueberry and bitter cherry flavours are given depth by notes of liquorice and expresso. Finishes taut, spicy and very long, with lovely clarity and fine-grained tannins.