LVDO Mt Torrens Light Dry Red 2024

From the winemaker -

Inspired by Australia's Red Burgundy wines in the 1950s and 1960s, which were based on the "Hermitage" grape with the addition of Grenache, or Pinot Noir, or Dolcetto, etc. and smelled like and drank like a Pinot Noir-based red Burgundy. I wondered what a modern Red Burgundy would look like. Conveniently, in 2022 I started to work with the Burnton Ridge Vineyard (0.6 ha) at 470 m elevation, planted to mainly Syrah, with single rows of Sangiovese, Merlot, Nero d'Avola and a few vines of Viognier. It is on a sand-based soil with abundant sandstone, quartzite and granite.

The grapes were harvested in three passes, four weeks apart, wild-fermented (partially co-fermented) with a broad range of techniques: whole cluster, destemmed, intracellular fermentation and extended maceration (100 days). Then, it was aged in ancient oak barrels for 10 months and bottled with 30 ppm SO2. The result is a fragrant and elegant wine with serious structure underneath and persistent flavours.

Blend composition: 93% Syrah, 2% Nero d’Avola, 2% Sangiovese, 2% Viognier, 1% Merlot

“This is really delicious, with a European feel. Aromas of spices, charcuterie, dried herbs, olive tapenade, granitic earth, wild blackberries and licorice. The palate is light- to medium-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity. The texture is excellent, with refined tannins and only 12.5% alcohol. Made from 93% syrah with touches of sangiovese, nero d’avola and viognier. Drink or hold.”