Vineyard

The fruit for this wine is sourced from SA125 clone in the House Block at front of the cellar door and the G9V3 component comes from the mid-slopes of the Maurice vineyard between the Pinot Noir and the Merlot Noir. This gives us two different aspects and two different clones with which to play, and as you all know, we like playing. The soils are slightly different with the SA125 planted over deeper red friable clay loams and the G9V3 on better drained gravely Easterly traprocks and limestone lenses.

The G9V3 seems to add high fruit notes to the structure colour and presence of the SA 125 clone. It all adds interest to this wine which will continue to surprise for many years as it matures in your cellar.

Vintage Conditions

The Weather At Bloodwood is always the same; It's Different!

Vintage 2022 reminded us of those we used to experience in the mid eighties and early nineties. It was very cool and late by this centuries standards beginning with Chardonnay on the 16th March and ending with ripe enough Shiraz in late April. Yields were moderate because we pruned for tough ripening conditions and although the acid and pH levels were on the bright side, fruit flavours were lovely. Given the tough conditions, (733 mm during the October to April growing season) it was vital that fungicide programmes were consistently protective to ensure good clean fruit at vintage. Luckily, we had a run of dry and warm days from 4th of February to the 25th of March 2022 only interrupted by a moderate fall in

early March which dragged this vintage home in good clean shape here at Bloodwood.

Winemaking

As I’ve outlined elsewhere, we believe in macro oxygenation during the early fermentation process and extended cold soaking on skins here at Bloodwood. And this wine is no exception. The home vineyard fruit was hand plunged with plenty of air in an open fermenter, whilst the G9V3 vineyard in the Maurice block was treated in the usual manner. A high proportion of whole berries are a constant in all our red ferments, and regular splash pumping-over helps bring the tannins into shape early in the wine making process. The wine spent 14 months in a mix of 20% new and the balance older French oak hogsheads followed by 4 months in stainless before sterile filtration and bottling in September 2023

Wine Analysis

pH 3.31

Acidity 6.8 g/l

Alc/Vol 13.5%

Price $480

Tasting Notes

Dense, bright crimson in colour, the lifted bouquet of cedar, ripe raspberries and red fruit infused violets leads into a poised palate of cassis, bright integrated acidity and soft vanillin char. The elegant balance of this wine supported by deliciously integrated French oak tannins, ensures a fine medium term future in your cellar if you can resist temptation.