NEW RELEASE
Inspired by the wines of Sicily, Stephanie planted Mount Horrocks’ Nero d’Avola vineyard in 2007.
The grapes are harvested by hand, then cold-soaked prior to a nine day ferment. Daily plunging ensures ideal extraction until the wine is racked to French oak barriques (20% new) for twelve months maturation prior to bottling.
Less new oak is used to maintain its juicy palate.
Tasting Notes:
Stephanie’s love affair with this Sicilian grape began when she first tasted nero d’avola wines in 2003 in Italy.
Bright plum-purple with a veritable cornucopia of red fruits and spice on the nose. Medium-bodied, yet generously flavoured, this delicious Sicilian variety has found an ideal home at Mount Horrocks. Ripe cherry and raspberry fruit combine with savoury-edged spice and gentle tannins.
Drinking beautifully upon release it will also age for 10 years.
Reviews:
Tyson Stelzer – WBM Magazine
94 Points
Stephanie Toole’s cool, high site in Watervale produces a beautiful expression of Nero, with a gorgeous core of black cherry and black berry fruits with a violet lift. The vibrant acidity of the cool 2022 harvest sets off soft, supple, impeccably fine tannins.
Gorgeous drinking from the outset. Best yet.
March/April 2024
Mike Bennie – Halliday Wine Companion
94 Points
A very good nero d’Avola expression with classic cherry fruit set amongst licorice, alpine herb and sweet turned earth characters in both the bouquet and palate. It sits around medium weight and feels well trimmed by the weave of al dente tannin, the finish a touch savoury with a rub of walnut nuttiness and some more alpine herb character. Nero can often be quite rambunctious; this feels distinctly elegant, but quintessential.
November 2023
Huon Hooke – The Real Review
92 Points
Ultra-bright, youthful purple-red colour with a bright aroma of red cherry to raspberry, fresh and fruit driven, the palate following on from there with medium to full body, supple fine grained tannins and sweet berry flavours swaddled in ample drying tannins at the finish, then a lingering follow-through. Good drinking now and will surely reward some cellaring.
23rd September 2023
