Spring – Summer Newsletter 2018

800 CASES PRODUCED
In her 26th vintage, owner / winemaker Stephanie Toole has produced a beautiful and utterly delicious riesling entirely from fruit grown at her Watervale vineyard.

“2018 was a dream run: a low-stress vintage with the fruit ripening evenly following dry seasonal conditions. All very positive except for the lowish yield, which means our 2018’s will sell quickly.”

The remote, isolated Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling vineyard is in the north-eastern corner of this famous Clare Valley subregion, planted on the very edge of the highly prized red loam over limestone. This ACO (Australian Certified Organic) vineyard produces beautifully balanced organic fruit, allowing Stephanie to make her wine without acid additions or the need for fining. The Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling is not only vegan and vegetarian friendly (as are all her wines), it also has ageing potential, while drinking beautifully now.

Lime green tints; a delicate, floral aroma reminiscent of limes.
Those citrus tones form the base of its taste which are wrapped around a silky mountain stream minerality, with juicy, lime blossom spring florals and a long, crisp, cleansing finish. Simply divine. Will repay a decade or more in the cellar, if, unlike this taster, you possess the restraint.

380 CASES PRODUCED
Once again, beautiful fruit from the cool and later 2017 vintage, this is an outstanding example of wood-aged semillon. Its fine, lemony fruit is enhanced by the oak maturation which provides structure and spice notes.

100% estate grown and certified organic, the grapes are carefully hand harvested in the cool of the morning and sent straight to the winery where they are destemmed, crushed and gently pressed. The free-run juice is isolated and settled prior to fermenting in French oak barriques, one-third of which are new.

Each barrel is stirred weekly for three months then left on gross lees for a total of nine months when Stephanie conducts a series of tastings to determine the final blend. Once assembled it is bottled without fining.

Very pale white gold.
Dried wildflower and lightly stewed apple over nuanced spicy oak. Crisp, lightly savoury, lemony semillon with texture and length. Layered and flavoursome yet still relatively light and bright, the pristine fruit shines through on the finish, balanced by chalky acidity. Sips nicely on its own but truly shines with grilled white fish or poultry. Worth cellaring through to 2028.

Recent review:

95 Points, 2019 James Halliday Wine Companion

“Crisp and textural at once. The focus is acute. Lemon curd, citrus, cedar spice and a whisper of herbs. Beautiful wine, for now or for later”.

By Campbell Mattinson

750 CASES PRODUCED
Sourced entirely from her Watervale vineyard, this is Stephanie’s 26th vintage of this outstanding dessert wine by Stephanie.

The underlying principal of this special wine is that the canes are completely severed and the bunches of grapes are left hanging on the vine. This causes them to shrivel like raisins, naturally concentrating the flavour.

It’s a complex, highly risky process requiring both skill and experience. The decision to pick is made by Stephanie based on appearance and taste. Technical analysis in this case is of little value. Intimate knowledge of the process on the other hand is critical. Perfect picking conditions meant the fruit arrived at the winery in excellent raisined condition.

Bright pale white gold. Concentrated lemon-lime with vanilla spice.
This wine is easy to identify – so distinctive is the Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut style – and this is an outstanding vintage. It is at once delicate yet intense, floral, lemon curd, juicy ripe lime and caramel syrup over a vibrant mineral acidity that ensures it finishes bright, fresh and clean.
Another decade-plus potential wine.

150 CASES PRODUCED
The second release of Stephanie’s delicious dry rosé made from shiraz grapes grown on the Alexander Vineyard.

The juice is allowed a very short skin contact time where it picks up its beautiful blushing pink hue and a little extra flavour. Fermented to almost dryness this wine looks and tastes of spring.

Yes, it is unusual to make rosé from shiraz, Stephanie has taken her knowledge of European rosés and come up with her own local version which is exceptional. Ideal over lunch, or as Stephanie says “the perfect afternoon-tea wine”.

Delicate pink hue. Appealing raspberry and musk aromatics. Moulded in the best of the Euro-styles: crisp and crunchy, vibrant red berry fruits, appealing floral notes and a lovely citrus edge. Surprisingly textured and long, with cleansing acidity to round out a generously fruity palate. This serious rosé to enjoy through the summer months is best served cool, but not cold, to enjoy its fine fruit character.