Great Western, Victoria

Syrah from Great Western has always carried a strong appeal.  This site is just up the road from the famed Garden Gully old vine block.  The soils are red clay loam with heaps of rose quartz speckled throughout – classic gold diggings terroir! The fermentation technique was inspired by my time in California working with cool-climate Syrah.  100% Whole cluster fermented carbonically for 10 days to capture the bright fruit profile, then I popped the lid and foot stomped the bejesus out of it!  It sounds aggressive because it is. Syrah can handle this treatment, personally, I believe it prefers it. Two pump overs a day, which built a lovely tannin profile in the wine.  After 10 months in an old French barrel, I gave it 30 ppm. – Doug Lilburne, Winemaker