Gold Medal Mclaren Vale Tempranillo 2018 at $129/Dozen (RRP $300/Dozen) Delivered @Skye Cellars (Excludes TAS & NT)

Alternatus Small Batch Handcrafted Tempranillo 2018

AWARDS:
Melbourne International Wine Show 2019 - GOLD & 94 points
McLaren Vale Wine Show 2019 - Bronze
Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2019 - Bronze

JAMES HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION - FEBRUARY 2020 - 92 POINTS
“Fleshy and generous, but with enough fine-grained tannins to provide structure and texture. And there’s a
touch of the ubiquitous McLaren Vale chocolate to complete the picture”.

VINEYARD & VINTAGE
Our Tempranillo is from a vineyard on the outskirts of the small town of Willunga, and was handpicked in mid-March with fantastic fruit ripeness. Above average rainfall in winter and spring of the 2018 growing season filled up the soil profile with moisture and set the season up well. A hailstorm hit the region in late October but due to cooler than average temperatures in winter and spring budburst and flowering were late so most varieties were unaffected. Once the weather warmed the canopies developed well. The weather through December and January was stable and mostly dry with intermittent rain events. With a wetter season comes higher risks of disease, however good canopy management, well timed organic preventative sprays and an easing in the wet weather mid-January allowed bunches and vines to remain in pristine condition. Warm conditions in late January and early February meant that vine canopies maintained vigour and vibrancy and berry ripening happened at a rapid pace. Then the weather cooled and vintage stalled, allowing everyone to take a breath and catch up. As March came around the weather again warmed and it was game on as the fruit ripened to perfection at a steady pace and we were able to pick at perfect balance of acidity, sugar and flavour.

WINEMAKING
After a gentle de-stemming the whole berries were fermented in small fermenters, carefully hand-plunged and sometimes foot trodden to coax colour and flavour from the skins with natural ferment and minimal additions. Once ferment was complete the wine was basket-pressed and racked to seasoned French oak barrels for 4 months before bottling. Theresultant wine reflects our philosophy of letting the McLaren Vale soils and environment express themselves through the wine.

TASTING NOTE
A lifted nose of dark cherries, raspberries and sandalwood, the palate has luscious cherry flavours, delicate spice and delicious soft tannins.

Vegan Friendly
VARIETAL: Tempranillo
REGION: McLaren Vale
BARREL AGEING: 4 months in French oak and American oak Hogsheads
TECHNICAL:
Alcohol - 13.5%
pH - 3.75
Residual Sugar - <2g/L
Total Acidity - 5.8g/L
CELLAR POTENTIAL: 2023
WINEMAKER: Tony Ingle