Aglianico 2010

Wine: Aglianico (pronounced al-yah-nee-co) has a rich history in southern Italy. Brought by the Greeks to southern Italy over 2000 years ago, the variety is one of Italy's oldest species of vine. In the foothills east of McLaren Vale, we have planted a single vineyard Aglianico on a geological formation of pebbly iron-sandstone. This terrane provides low yields and the warm climate assists in ripening the variety to produce a medium-bodied style with high natural acidity.

Vintage: Above-average rainfall in winter and autumn set vines up well with healthy canopies and allowed the soil to store water. Conditions since the mid 2000s have seen a trend of earlier budburst, flowering and harvest with shorter ripening seasons. The 2010 vintage was no exception, with budburst beginning in late August and summer weather arriving early with consecutive days of around 35oC in November. Some rain during December helped to brighten up the vines and keep them growing until Christmas, then fine weather between January and harvest and cool nights in February and March provided perfect conditions for ripening.

Crops were balanced and the wines emerging from the 2010 vintage are superb, particularly the red varieties. Skins were very thick and dark with a good level of tannin, which will lead to wines that will cellar well. A standout year.

Tasting Note: Our Aglianico is vibrant ruby in colour with aromas of cherries, red liquorice, spice and lavender. Restrained with firm tannins, the finish is long and savoury, perfect to accompany strongly flavoured pasta sauces such as meat ragu or a traditional puttanesca.

We believe this wine reflects our goal of producing distinctive wines that are characteristic of their variety and reflective of our terrane.

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