2009 Plantagenet Omrah Tempranillo
VINEYARDS:
Our Tempranillo was established in 2006 in our Rosetta vineyard, located 20 kilometres north-west of Mount Barker on a well exposed hill top. The gravelly loam soil, mild conditions and careful viticulture combine to produce fruit with expressive varietal character. This is our first vintage of Tempranillo.
VINTAGE COMMENTS:
One of the coolest vintages in recent history leading to wines of great finesse and style being produced. After a cool wet spring and early Summer, a dry February and March followed allowing flavours to intensify in a relatively disease and pestilence free environment. Mild sunny days were the norm during veraison though there were a few typically chilly days scattered throughout the growing season. The fruit ripened surely but slowly, harvesting on the 20th April with the figures of 25.4 brix, pH 3.94 and an acid of 5.4g/L. Yield was moderate 5.6 tonne per hectare.
WINEMAKING:
Winemaking is kept simple to allow the variety to express itself naturally. Fermented in a small open fermenter, hand plunged and pressed gently after seven days fermenting. The wine spent the following 18 months in a specially designed tank that breathes to replicate aging in barrel. A few rackings only were required before bottling in March 2011 with no fining and only a light filtration.
TASTING NOTES:
The wine shows the restraint imposed by a cool vintage, with fine red berry notes, a whiff of vanilla oak and characteristic leather.
A lithe and supple palate with a rustic edge, fine powder tannins and lingering sweet berry flavours.
TECHNICAL DETAILS :
14.4% Alcohol, 6.0 g/L total acid, pH 3.52