Tasting Note
AromaOpens shy and closed, and with air reveals a dense and compact aroma of cherry and raspberry fruits woven through with spice rack, tea leaf, celery stalk and forest floor complexity.
ClosureScrewcap
GrapeGamay
Maturation
Oaked0
PalateMedium-bodied, velvet textured and taut.
VarietalV_GAMAY
VinificationApproximately 20% of the whole bunches were put into an open fermenter and crushed by foot. The remainder of the whole bunches were placed on top without crushing, the fermenter was sealed and it was left for a 10 day maceration without any further crushing, pumping over or plunging. At the end of this period it was pressed and transferred directly to old puncheons to complete its fermentation, then left to mature without sulphur dioxide until the end of winter, approximately 5 months. The barrels were then racked and sulphured and the wine was lightly filtered prior to bottling.
RegionYarra Valley - VIC
Region CodeDVICYVALLY
Region Notes
StateVIC
Subregion
WinemakerTom Belford
Wine StyleRed (Light Medium Bodied)
Patrick Eckel
0
95
2019/02/13
Wine Reviewer, January 2019
A new label in the last few vintages for Tom Belford who has absolutely smashed it with his 2018 releases of both Gamay and Cabernet Franc. A couple of benchmark examples. There is some pretty inspired winemaking technique going on here, the smoke and stem overtones to violets and dark cherry are intense but work seamlessly on the nose. The palate has the crunch of acidity you expect, but an attractive broadness of fruit in the red berry spectrum and layered with undergrowth and stem induced spice. The finish is long and complex. A lot to love here. Drink 2019 - 2021.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
0
90
2019/01/28
The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 January, 2019
Gamay isn't common in the Yarra Valley. Perhaps it should be. This lighter red displays a fruity, floral nose and inviting succulence. A hint of stem dries the nicely sustained finish for a gently savoury underpinnig.
Campbell Mattinson
0
91
2018/12/19
The Wine Front, 19 December, 2018
Light and tangy but complex. The thinking person’s light red. Beet, game, strawberries, nuts, cherries, spice, smoke and undergrowth tones. Deep breath. Myriad meanderings. Love the earthen beetroot tones in particular. Pretty, savoury, fruity and fresh.
Campbell Mattinson
0
91
2018/12/19
The Wine Front, 19 December, 2018
Light and tangy but complex. The thinking person’s light red. Beet, game, strawberries, nuts, cherries, spice, smoke and undergrowth tones. Deep breath. Myriad meanderings. Love the earthen beetroot tones in particular. Pretty, savoury, fruity and fresh.
