Rich and complex in a drier style

(500ml) Adelaide Hills, SA

Made in the “Portuguese” style by Hylton McLean and Jane Bromley of Honey Moon Vineyard, this vintage fortified is made from our fully ripe Tempranillo. Unlike our tawny, it is made from only one year’s vintage.

The free-run juice was taken off for our tawny production, and the remainder, called “the must” (juice, pulp and skins), was fermented for about a week. When the sugar level dropped from 25% at picking, to the target of 10% in the bottle, fresh brandy spirit at 80% was added to achieve the finished wine target of 20% alcohol. The skins soaked in the fortified wine for another three days and this extracted more colour and flavour. It was basket-pressed and at this stage was almost black with a hint of crimson. After 15 months in well-seasoned oak the wine was bottled, and it will mellow and meld now for decades. Due to this very long maturing time we use corks that are taint-free and guaranteed for a minimum of 10 years.

One sniff will have you thinking of Christmas pudding – rich black and red berry fruit with a warm brandy sauce. Much of this vintage has already been consumed but it will definitely be even more delicious if you can keep your corkscrew away from it!