2020 Single Block Series Dornfelder

Alcohol: 13.5%
ρH: 3.60
Total Acidity: 6.6 g/L
Residual sugar: less than 2 g/l

Winemakers: John Bown, Alain Rousseau

Dark, pomegranate aromas and light spices, Rich texture with chalky tannin, ripe fruit, lengthy.

We had a drought in Southern Tasmania until Spring. From budburst up to flowering, the temperatures were cool (between 15-20 ֯C). The low temperatures made the flowering slow, resulting in small and lighter bunches with 30-40% of small berries (called Hen and Chicken or non-pollenized berries).

Summer was also dry, with little rain. Early January was warm with high temperatures. Then, temperatures dropped in February and March. The outcome was a late start of vintage around mid-March. Some welcomed the rain early March; it did fill up the bunches. In general, the quality of the 2020 vintage is good with a lower volume of wine than usual.

Variety: 100% Dornfelder, sustainably grown
Region: 100% Coal River Valley, Tasmania

A 48-hour pre-ferment soak was followed by inoculation and fermentation in 1/2 and 1 tonne open fermenters hand plunged twice daily. Pressed and then transfer into French oak for Malolactic ferment, aged in barrels for 20 months.

Bottling date: 10.03.2022