2011 'High + Dry' Riesling

Varieties
100% Porongurup Riesling

Region
Porongurup, Great Southern (View the Map)

Free run clarified juice only, neutral yeast.

Riesling is purity and heartbreak in a glass. There is no truer expression of soil, aspect and climate but at the same time this late ripening prima donna is not forgiving of lesser sites or management. The Porongurup Range is one of the sub-regions of the Great Southern region in WA and home to many mature dry grown Riesling vineyards. Typically the Riesling is later ripening and a little finer with higher acidity from the Porongurups; there is a rain shadow on the north facing slopes that allows for the later ripening on these more elevated sites (High and Dry).

The pristine fruit is pressed immediately and only the free run component with the delicate citrus and floral aromatics is kept. Juice yields are typically only ½ to 2/3rds of any other variety but the quality is fine, racy and delicate without any bitter phenolics extracted from the skins.

The 2011 High and Dry Riesling is intense, nervy and shy on the front palate but grows outstanding lime, white flowers and slatey texture through the middle. The finish is outstanding: exceptional persistence in the mouth long after swallowing. This is a Riesling for now and for 10 years time.

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2011 "Tough Love" Karridale Chardoney

Varieties
100% Chardonnay, 85% Gin Gin clone, 15% Dijon Clones

Region
Karridale, Margaret River (View the map)

Full solids and wild ferments; 70% tank fermented, 30% whole bunch pressed and barrel ferment in new (10%) and used (20%) barrels; aged on lees for 6 months.

Chardonnay is the pinnacle of white wines in Margaret River and we love the Karridale region. The small bunches this year yielded juice with finesse rather than fuss; lean tight palate structures complemented by subtle oak, long fruit profiles supported by natural acidity (un-ameliorated with added acid). Grapefruit, lime brulee and almond meal aromatics show through with a hint of spicy oak to add complexity.

Our ferments start naturally in barely clarified juices, which makes them pretty funky; this allows typical chardonnay weight, texture and complexity to develop. The 2011 Tough Love chardonnay has a crisp dry mid palate of lime pith and grapefruit with smoky oak emerging after a few minutes. Long and elegant this is the chardonnay we love to drink and talk about. The fruit quality really shows in the length of flavour on the finish, a testament to the strict vineyard management required for top end chardonnay.

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2011 ‘Perfect Day’ Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Varieties
75% Karridale Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Cowaramup Semillon

Region
75% Karridale + 25% Wilyabrup, Margaret River

80% tank fermented, 20% wild ferment in used barrels (Sauvignon Only); aged on lees for 5 months.

The Karridale subregion is home to the finest Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Margaret River. Crisp higher natural acids; aromatic citrus fruit profiles; extended slower ripening and more fruit intensity: what’s not to like?

Semillon has always colluded with Savvy. Our choice of Cowaramup Semillon is due to its lemon pith midpalate and racy mineral acidity that complements and extends the punchy Sauvignon profile.

Extended maturation on lees has added textural layers and complexity that seduce rather than dominate. A wine for conversion and the converted…

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2011 ‘Teardrop’ Riesling

Varieties
100% Mt Barker Riesling

Region
Mt Barker, Great Southern (View the Map)

Free run clarified juice only, neutral yeast.

Riesling is purity and heartbreak in a glass. There is no truer expression of soil, aspect and climate but at the same time this late ripening prima donna is not forgiving of lesser sites or management. Mount Barker is one of the sub-regions of the Great Southern region in WA and home to many mature dry grown Riesling vineyards. We have sourced the Teardrop Riesling from a vineyard with 25 year old Riesling vines.

The pristine fruit is pressed immediately and only the free run component with the delicate citrus and floral aromatics is kept. Juice yields are typically only ½ to 2/3rds of any other variety (heartbreak for the accountant…) but the quality is fine, racy and delicate (purity for the winemaker…) without any bitter phenolics extracted from the skins.

The 2011 Teardrop is the reward for such fiscal promiscuity; lifted aromas of lime juice, lemon blossom and the seabreeze off the Southern Ocean. A powerful palate of delicate features; zesty limes, talc and a crystalline mineral texture focused by crisp acidity through a lingering limey finish.

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2010 ‘Calypso’ Cabernet Franc + Merlot

Varieties
56% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot

Region
Wilyabrup, Margaret River (View the Map)

Cabernet Franc and Merlot are often maligned from Margaret River as not being quite as good, nor as consistent as Cabernet Sauvignon. Both stars in their home of Bordeaux neither seem to have travelled as well as the stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. Genetics, rootstocks, viruses, poor site selection; these have all played a part in the lesser performance, perceived and actual, of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. However there are sites where the stars do align and grapes of great intensity and complexity are grown. We were seduced by the possibilities of this blend.

We sourced Cabernet Franc from 2 vineyards and Merlot from a single vineyard. The Calypso has lifted dried herb, mocha, fruitcake and red berry aromas with some cedary oak in support. The palate is warm, supple and rich with many layers of fruit, tannin and aromatics. The perfumed Cabernet Franc complements the plummy richness of the Merlot and both contribute the silky finish.

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2010 ‘Cannonball’ Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon + Merlot + Petit Verdot

Varieties
49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Region
Wilyabrup, Margaret River (View the Map)

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are often blended all around the world of wine. Petit Verdot is a near forgotten cog, a variety of such surreal potency that only a few percent in a blend ultimately change the style. We like it.

Each variety was sourced from a different vineyard within the Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River. Each individual wine was impressive and stylish but the blend had something extra. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides focus, structure and concentrated blackberry and dried sage fruit. The Merlot added flesh, weight and succulence to the palate and a red fruit lift on the nose. The Petit Verdot has added a hint of floral aromatics, purple colour and firmed the end palate with fine powdery tannins. A muscular blend with many years ahead of it.

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2010 ‘Dirty Boots’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Varieties
97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

Region
Yallingup + Wilyabrup, Margaret River

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Cabernet Sauvignon is king of the Margaret River region. It wears many guises from the tip of Cape Naturaliste in the northern sub-region of Yallingup, to Augusta at the southern tip of the Karridale region. The warmer areas produce richer more generous wines with black fruits and bigger tannin structures; the cooler areas are finer, more delicate with lifted red fruit, floral aromatics and medium bodied structures. Of course this generalized characterization of MR Cabernet Sauvignon can be radically skewed by warmer or cooler growing seasons…ahhh, the joys of viticulture.

Two Blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon were selected for this blend: one from Yallingup and one in the heart of Wilyabrup. The Yallingup Cabernet has provided the mocha, blackberry notes and midpalate weight; the Wilyabrup has the redcurrant and violet aromatics with fine layered long tannins. Together a more complete Cabernet Sauvignon than the sum of parts. The small percentages of Merlot and Petit Verdot add a little more flesh and structure to the palate.

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