Spinifex La Maline Shiraz Viognier 2021

Deep aromatics of woody spices – sandalwood, cardamom, mace and pepper – fuse with deeper fresh leather, ink, char and dark chocolate notes. Fruit aromatics are cool and dark – spiced black cherry and tart blackberry laced Asian basil and dried marjoram. Medium to full bodied – at this point unevolved – spiced black cherry and sour dark plum fruits on attack turn to red plum and raspberry fruits, the flavours and feel of pomegranate cocoa build towards the finish – beneath the tannin the palate is quite open knit, wood and bunch tannins are yet to fully integrate and drive the palate to a tight, fine finish. Elegant, cool feel.

All fruit is hand harvested.  Fermented with indigenous yeasts in open oak and stainless-steel fermenters for between 12 and 21 days prior to pressing. Between     30-45 % of whole bunches were retained within the otherwise de-stemmed must. Around 2% whole Viognier fruit was included in the fermenters. Elevage was undertaken in French oak barriques and demi-muids, approximately 40% new, on light lees for 20 months prior to assemblage and bottling.

Growing Season:

In 2021, La Maline was a barrel selection drawn from two parcels in the High Eden sub-region of Eden Valley. The majority of the blend comes from our Rostein Vineyard which we have owned since 2014, the balance from our neighbours whose vineyard is immediately adjacent. The vineyards are approximately 70 and 20 years of age respectively and are grown without irrigation in skeletal, sandy soils of granitic origin at around 490m asl. With La Maline we are seeking a refined, detailed and feminine expression of Barossa Shiraz.  Key contributors to achieving this style are vine age, vineyard site altitude, a soil type sympathetic to the style and dedicated vine husbandry.