2020 Lino Ramble Blindman's Bluff Bastardo

The French call this grape Trousseau and the Spanish call it Merenzao, but Andy and Angela of Lino Ramble call it Bastardo - which is what the Portugese named it. There are some similarities with Pinot Noir but unlike Pinot, Bastardo copes with McLaren Vales climate far better. Medium bodied, with plummy red fruits & spicy cherry. Savoury earthy undergrowth characters. Light tannins and warm brambly finish. Intriguing and inviting.

VINTAGE SUMMARY
2020 was an exceptionally challenging growing season. Bushfires,
strong winds during flowering, very dry winter and a very hot December
reduced yields and seriously kept everyone on their toes. Fortunately,
we were saved by excellent late January rainfall and a mild autumn
from then on. Our focus on climate appropriate varieties held us in
good stead. And Bastardo was no exception.
WINEMAKING
Always the first fruit we pick each vintage. Harvested beginning of
February. Hand harvested, 25% whole bunch and 90 day skin contact
time. Wild fermented with no added acid, enzymes or tannins. 10
months oak maturation in 700L. Demi Muids. The whole bunch gives
this wine a beautiful carbonic maceration lift