Tar & Roses Heathcote Tempranillo 2017 (Australia)

Tar & Roses Heathcote Tempranillo 2017 (Australia)A deep burgundy colour in the glass. Liquer cherries, cream and coffee on the nose with hints of freshly tilled earth. Rhubarb and black cherries on the palate, plush and round. Well balanced with substantial chalky tannin, the wine finishes rich and long. A combination of two vineyards from Heathcote, grapes were crushed and de stemmed into one static fermenter which was pumped over twice a day. During fermentation the temperature and acid levels

A deep burgundy colour in the glass. Liquer cherries, cream and coffee on the nose with hints of freshly tilled earth. Rhubarb and black cherries on the palate, plush and round. Well balanced with substantial chalky tannin, the wine finishes rich and long.

A combination of two vineyards from Heathcote, grapes were crushed and de-stemmed into one static fermenter which was pumped over twice a day. During fermentation the temperature and acid levels were monitored constantly. The wine was pressed to tank using an air bag press then racked off gross lees and transferred to barrel to finish malolactic fermentation. It was left to mature in a combination of new French and older barriques.

In contrast to the Nebbiolo and Sangiovese in this range, the Tempranillo is an early ripener and has no problem reaching full maturity in the soils at Heathcote. Tempranillo is prone to developing big bunches and berries when grown in rich soil so the rather gravely, tougher soil specific to Heathcote in particular, provides some restraint. Grown largely in the Rioja and Ribero del Duero regions of Spain, it is well suited to the warm, dry summers of Central Victoria.