Heathcote, Victoria

Selected from a vineyard situated in the Southern part of the Heathcote Wine region and grown on decomposed granite.  The milder season finished well and this fruit was able to get fully ripe.  Hand harvested and processed through an oscillys destemmer and both mechanically and hand sorted in the winery.  Ensuring only ripe whole berries were in the ferment.  Fermented in small open top (one tonne) fermenters, the wine spent almost 4 weeks on skins to build texture and complexity.  Pressed with all pressings incorporated it was aged in a single seasoned 2100 lt. French Oak Vat.  Before bottling in June 2022.

A side step for Paul Osicka wines, here with Simon Osicka looking to non estate sources for inspiration and quarry. Interesting to see how the overlay of that winemaking goes with other bits of Heathcote.

Big, bold, bouncy and juicy. Rollicking ride. A slightly cooler, blue fruit note through dark cherry and ripe raspberry fruitiness, a choc-swirl too, some cinnamon, a bit of earthiness and a truffle/mushroom umami finish. It’s a hedonistic, lush red but finds good balance and a sense of freshness with each sip. Balance, so well done. Glossy texture the other major appeal. That texture… Indeed, I gulped. It’s beautifully done here, wonderfully expressive and a fuller flavoured Heathcote red that should have mass appeal and yet enough detail for those seeking that. 94 Points Mike Bennie, The Wine Front