Contorno Alto 2023 Fortified Shiraz
Eden Valley - Vintage Port Style Wine
Making a fortified wine has always had appeal. Late in the vintage we landed a parcel of Shiraz from High Eden from a contour vineyard I had driven past many times to admire. We then scrambled to organize some fine spirit to put our plan to action.
Due to the very cool vintage conditions the fruit was harvested very late in the season and only at a modest 13 Baume.
It was de-stemmed and went through a low & slow open fermentation then eventually fortified on skins. Soon after basket Pressed to settle in tank. Then put to a well-seasoned Hogs Head for 17 months.
388 Bottles filled -750ml
Its a fruit driven style, not overly sweet, spirity warmth, fresh, clean and vibrant. Very approachable young and will lay down for many years. Thus far it has been very well received when people visit our cellar door!
2023 Contorno Alto Fortified Shiraz
The following vineyards make an appearance to form our current release.
*Hoffmann DV Mickan Block Shiraz - Adrian Hoffmann.
*Wilton Hill Old Vine Shiraz Eden Valley - Joel Mattschoss.
*Marsen Springs Eden Valley Pinot Noir - Tony Walker.
*BVD Road Block Shiraz - Ebenezer.
*The Starship Block Shiraz - Flaxman Valley.
The fruit was hand harvested at various beaumes ranging from 300kg to 700kg parcels. The majority going through whole cluster fermentations. One small parcel was de-stemmed, hand plunged on skins for five weeks and Basket Pressed. All transfers in the cellar made gently via gravity and the wines put to French Oak Barriques with inclusion of one seasoned Hogs Head for a 17 month elevage in our cool cellar.
A Barrique of the previous years 2021 Dero, and the sister Barrique of 2021 Le Bomb both wonderfully stood the test of time in the cellar and are included in the blend.
Dero was bottled at the end of winter without fining or filtration with only a small addition of S02.
This release saw ruthless barrel selection, using only eight barrels of the sixteen available to give us a mere 1800L blend of the best wine we could produce.
In our opinion 2022 Dero is a broody, bright and slick rendition that comes to life with a good whiff of air and sits stylistically between the 20 & 21 releases. With a slight elevation in packaging such as a new bottle, Diam Tradition 30 and a little wax to top it off!