2024 Roussanne
Intrigued by this rare golden beauty, whose origins lie in the Rhône Valley of southern France, we have been producing Roussanne since 2007. Expect fragrance, power, and savoury textural delight with great rewards in the cellar, for those who can wait.
Â
VINTAGE SUMMARY
A normal wet winter was followed by a picturesque dry spring. The long range weather patterns indicated a shift from La Niña towards El Niño, which favours drier and hotter conditions. In these warmer seasons, we adjust our practices to encourage slightly higher yields and more canopy cover. However, the unexpected summer rainfall in December and January presented a unique challenge, resulting in larger bunches and berry development. Warm conditions prevailed through February and early March, promoting ripening of flavours and sugars with the balance we were aiming for. The warmth led to an intense couple of weeks, during which we harvested the majority of the grapes.Â
WINEMAKING
Sourced from two blocks within our estate. Hand-picked on the 9th and 12th of March and basket pressed, retaining earlier free run for this blend. No sulphur or acid was added to the juice. The passive oxidation as juice helps to naturally fine out the unstable phenolic compounds associated with this variety and accentuates its trademark texture. The un-fined and unsettled juice was transferred to mostly older French oak puncheons for wild yeast fermentation. No MLF. Matured for 7 months and stirred monthly with lees retained before racking and blending prior to bottling. Bottled November 2024.Â
