The La Niña pattern weakened during the lead-up to the 2012 vintage, resulting in below average winter and spring rainfall. Spring was mild and summer was surprisingly mild which provided for slow ripening and allowed for intense fruit flavours, high acidity and mature tannins, Rainfall leading up to vintage was above average, with the heaviest rainfall events in late January and late February, whim tied in well with the natural physiology of the dry-grown vines; ie, keeping leaves active a veraison and ripening. Temperatures were mild during harvest through March, warming to an Indian summer in April, allowing for a long window of picking and amazing maturities with the red varieties. Shiraz was a standout variety showing great purity and spice, colour, intensity and strikingly mature tannins.

Attractive and alluring aromas of spiced Satsuma plums, blueberries and briar blackberries, with notes of black pepper, anise, fennel and cinnamon, supported by herbaceous nuances of crushed sage.

Round and generous, with spicy and wild blue and black fruits, a focused mis-palate of elegant structure and silky tannins that create beautiful texture and balance for an extraordinarily long finish.

A very deep crimson with red hues.

Matured in 71% new and 29% seasoned French hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.