2022 onyx durif
We have long strived to create Durif that is fresh, aromatic and powerful but at a lower alcohol than is often the norm with this variety. Our home block of Durif is now just over 10 years old and is just now starting to settle down and really show us its potential to produce an elegant complex Durif. This, the first release of this wine, comes entirely from our home vineyard at Eldorado.
Extensive leaf plucking along with judicious shoot and bunch thinning were undertaken to ensure the highest quality fruit. Very minimal irrigation is applied and only when absolutely required. The brakes are put on these vines, the fruit exposed to sunlight to ripen tannis as early as possible.
In the winery we keep things simple. Whole berries, gently hand plunged once daily only, open ferments. A combination of cultured and wild yeast is used. Gently basket pressed directly to 100% French Oak. 1 × New 500L Puncheon the remainder was taken from a 1750L 10 year old seasoned Foudre.
Only 13.2% alcohol and very much in the blue and red fruit spectrum of flavours.
This wine has been a long time in the making, a “Revelation”, it’s Durif under another guise.
Serve at 18-20 c, put in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving in summer. As all our wines are unfined and left to rest on gross lees to build texture in barrel, decanting the wine before serving will allow it to shine!
Food match: Braised Beef Cheek
Cellaring Potential: Time is your friend, store in a dark cool spot free from large daily temperature fluctuations. This wine will continue to evolve over the next 15 years.
Unfined, Gently Filtered, Vegan Friendly, Hand Bottled Onsite July 2023.
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