vintage
Our 2022 vintage was set up with excellent winter rainfall received over June, July and August in 2021 – very close to the long-term average of 556mm. This ensured the soil profile reached capacity and recharged dams in the vineyard. A mild spring followed with October having significantly higher rainfall than average and spring being cool and cloudy in general. Budburst was surprisingly even but late as a result with November flowering also happening under cool (but drier) conditions with some variability in fruit set and subsequent early berry development as a result (~3 weeks later than typical).
December and January then provided extraordinarily dry and sunny conditions (a very warm period over Xmas) with no rainfall which saw vine maturity “catch up” to a harvest start of only around a week later than average. A strong Marri blossom helped preserve the quality of the vintage by distracting birds that would have otherwise been feasting on the ripening grapes.
A cooler change in the night temperatures and a light rain event in late February after our Chardonnay had been picked was perfectly timed to refresh the vines and allow for an extended ripening period (“hang time”) and a flexible picking window for the red varieties to ensure full flavours developed and tannins were fine and ripe.
All varietals achieved excellent quality and ripeness across the region with crop levels lower than 2021 to a more average volume which has further boosted the flavour and balance in the wines of 2022.
winemaking
Made from our vineyards in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River with the majority from our mature Redbrook vineyard planted in 1975.
Hand-picked and cold soaked with a touch over 50% whole bunches included in the base of the ferment. Wild fermentation for the first ~20% of fermentation before being overseeded with yeast – for aromatic, flavour and textural complexity. The wine was then aged in seasoned large-format (500L) French oak puncheons for 9 months which preserves the perfumed, savoury and peppery aromatics that defines our unique style of Redbrook Shiraz.
region
Margaret River
variety
Shiraz
analysis
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- pH: 3.59
- TA (Acidity): 6.25 g/L
- Vegan-friendly
