Macedon Ranges, Victoria

The Accidental Red came about in 2022 by…..unforeseen opportunity…..by accident! The
Merlot being pressed for Rosé had too much juice remaining to discard to compost and the
Shiraz pressings had too much colour for Rosé so in they went together. From 2023 we
decided to make the Accidental Red deliberately and to make it better. Merlot berries are
fermented with pressed out Shiraz juice, so in effect there is half the amount of skins for the
wine volume. A relatively quick wild yeast fermentation (limiting the time on skins) then into
barrel for malolactic and six months maturing through the winter. This Red is from premium
Macedon Ranges fruit and comes in as a bright, chillable, quaffable, deliberately
inexpensive wine. The red cherry juice and stone aromas mix with blueberry depth. Violet
and subtle brown spice add gentle complexity. The palate is supple in a mid-weight Pinot-
like way with freshness and fine tannins giving a clean, smooth finish. It drinks well now and
will drink well for half a dozen years.