XO Wine Co McLaren Vale Grenache 2018 (RRP $32 WM $27.90)
$27.90
Colour Cherry red with good intensity and a mild magenta hue
Bouquet Intense nose of fruits of the forest, plum and dried thyme. Interlaced with savoury notes of oak spice and a touch of vanilla bean.
Palate Rich fruit driven palate showing entwined dark and red fruits, integrated seamlessly with savoury tannins and oak spice. Balanced acidity with excellent drive and length with excellent balance between fruit and secondary bottle aged characters.
Harvest Date: 2nd March 2018 Baume: 14.9 Botted: June 2018
Wine Analysis Alcohol: 14.9% pH: 3.46 TA: 6.8
Vineyard Sourced from a single vineyard and block just North of the Aldinga township, planted on sandy loam with East West Rows and a gentle gradient towards the ocean. The close proximity to the ocean gives cooling influences while the stong sea breezes keep the crop level in check.
Winery Machine picked early in the morning to avoid the mid afternoon heat. Crushed and split into two open fermenters and cold soaked for 48 hours. The fermenters where then inoculated with two yeast strains, a hybrid yeast strain and a Rhone isolate. They were fermented on skins for 10 days and left post ferment on skins for a further five days under inert gas cover. Pressed directly to 2 and 3 year old French Hogs Heads and underwent MLF in oak. The wine was matured on lees in oak for 14 months before being clarified and hand bottled.
XO Wine Co Adelaide Hills Barbera 2019 (5 bottles left only) (RRP $32 WM $28.90)
$28.90
Colour Deep purple, magenta hue.
Bouquet Intensely aromatic fresh raspberries, blackcurrants with hints of cherry cola and nuances of blueberries. Underlying nutmeg and savoury oak compliment the aromatic fruit profile.
Palate Purity of fruit, raspberries, blackcurrant and blueberries dominate with nuances of satsuma plums. The palate is rich and juicy, integrated with oak spice and hints of black pepper. Good linear acidity backbone with subtle velvety tannins are met with generous fruit weight and persistence and fresh fruit on the finish.
Harvest Date: 8th April 2018 Baume: 13.3 Botted: October 2018
Wine Analysis Alcohol: 13% pH: 3.35 TA: 7.6
Vineyard Handpicked from the Berry vineyard at Kuitpo in the southern Adelaide Hills, a North Facing Aspect with East-West row orientation and an elevation of 380m. Soil is a sandy loam over siltstone, Clone is 424 and the canopy is managed with strict vertical shoot positioning.
Winery Destemmed only to ½ tonne open fermenters and soaked for 2 days prior to inoculation. Inoculated with a varietal enhancing yeast and plunged twice daily for 14 days. Pressed off skins directly to a three year old French Hogshead for secondary ferment. Left on lees and stirred monthly while maturing for 6 months. Racked and bottled at the Estate.
XO Wine Co Games Amongst Friends Light Red (RRP $20 WM $17.90)
$17.90
This light red was handcrafted to produce a unique blend bringing together friends from a number of grape varieties (Grenache, Tempranillo, Pinot and Barbera) and vineyards to for an afternoon or evening of relaxed and enjoyable fun.
Lifted red fruit with ripe plums, Morello cherry and dried herbs are integrated with a mild oak spice and hints baking spice. A perfect accompaniment to a games night with friends.
This single vineyard, single barrel Pinot Noir from Kenton Valley in the Adelaide Hills was handcrafted to produce a wine portraying the gradually shortening days, the subtle look of Autumn and the gently rolling sandy loam landscape draped in morning fog in which it's grow.
Partial carbonic maceration adds a floral lift to the wine with subtle earthiness and fresh strawberry notes while the palate offers silky tannins and a subtle spiciness.
Bouquet Intensely aromatic fresh satsuma plums, blackberries and raspberries are supported by wild thyme with hints of savoury oak spice.
Palate Purity of fruit follows through to the palate with plums and red fruits. The palate is rich and juicy, yet savoury at the same time with integrated oak spice. Good linear acidity backbone with subtle velvety tannins are met with generous fruit weight and persistence and fresh fruit on the finish.
Harvest Date: 16th March 2019 Baume: 14.0 Botted: January 2019
Wine Analysis Alcohol: 14.0% pH: 3.52 TA: 6.8
Vineyard Sourced from a single vineyard in Kenton Valley on a subtle north facing slope planted in red loam managed with strict VSP vine training. The site produces wines with elegant and pure fruit characteristics with structure and body.
Winery Handpicked and delivered directly to the winery. 10% Whole bunches were added to half tonne open fermenters before the remaining volume was destemmed only. The ferment began fermentation wildly before being innoculated with a varietal enhancing yeast isolated from the Rhone Valley. The ferment was plunged twice daily for 14 days. Pressed off skins directly to a three year old French Hogshead for secondary ferment then left on lees, stirring monthly while maturing in barrel for 6 months then left on lees for the remaining 3 months before being racked and hand bottled at the Estate.
