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Punt Road
VINTAGE
Near perfect conditions in 2015 with a cool January and warm spells in February and March allowed for gradual maturation, great acid retention, and solid crop with even ripeness. Phenolic maturity (brown seeds/stems) was spot on, and we took the opportunity to experiment with skin contact on whites and more whole bunch use in reds. While it wasn’t the easiest year, it was certainly the most exciting, and wines from this vintage are showing great vitality and aging potential.
WINEMAKING
Handpicked, aiming for fruit flavours in the blackcurrant spectrum.
Single block wine, as with the 2014. Block 3, planted in 1987. SA125 clone.
The emphasis is always on aquaeous maceration here, doing the grunt work in pump overs and plunges during cold soak and at the start of fermentation.Post ferment, the wine is pressed earlier than our neighbours, as I don’t subscribe to the Bordeaux theory of tannin integration on skins for Yarra cab. New oak is a mix of Taransaud, Saury and Bossuet. 25% new. Remaining is 2nd and 3rd use French barriques. It gets the best oak treatment of any Punt Road wine by a mile.
Bottled in July 2016
TECHNICAL NOTES
Vineyard: Napoleone Block 3
Soil type: Sandy loam on clay base
Aspect: North East
Clones : SA125
Yeast: F15
Coopers: Taransaud, Bossnet, Saury
Alcohol: 14.0%
$32 / 750ml Bottle