Spring follows Winter 2021
Our Fathers, Spring follows Winter Shiraz Grenache 2021, South Australia
Vintage Conditions
Rare is the vintage that combines good yields and high quality but 2021 was just that. A remarkable vintage in that it was once again pandemic affected but that it was measured and mild with none of the heat spikes or drought conditions of recent years. With good levels of winter rains filling soil profiles, the mild weather with intermittent rains throughout the growing and ripening season ensured that fruit ripened over a long period of time and the vintage was one of the longest in recent history. The results are spectacular, healthy fruit, moderate sugars and complex flavours, have resulted in wines of beautiful balance, fragrance and varietal typicity.
Winemaking
The Shiraz component was hand-picked early morning in the morning of March 10th, a good few days before the rest of the vineyard was picked. This was intentional as we wanted to retain freshness and energy in the wine.
The grapes were rapidly transferred to the winery where 25% of the bunches were left intact and the balance gently de-stemmed. After a couple of days of pre-fermentation maceration, the natural fermentation began and was accompanied by two hand plunges a day to gently extract colour and tannin.
When fermentation was complete, the wine was left on skins (and stems) for another 5 days before transferring to French oak (50% new puncheons) where it completed malolactic fermentation and 12 months of maturation.
The Grenache component came from and old vine site in the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa. Hand picked and wild fermented with some whole bunch inclusion, this wine delivers a vibrant wild strawberry character which helps to balance the richness of the Shiraz.
Alcohol: 14.5%
750 bottles produced
