The Vineyard
Little Hill Vineyard is owned and farmed by John and Al Shobbrook.
Site location: Seppeltsfield – Barossa Valley
Map coordinates: -34.501853,138.915622
Clone: 1654
Planted: 1998
Elevation: 241 meters
Soil: Heavy, dense dark brown & red clay soil over limestone.
Aspect: West facing
Rows: 30-35
Harvest: 21st February 2014
Tonnes: 2.04T
The Winemaking
Hand-picked and destemmed to an open-top tank for fermentation and gently hand plunged two to three times daily.
Pressed directly to oak with 3 weeks barrel fermentation followed by 10 months maturation - 60% French, 40% American, with 20% new oak.
Unfined, unfiltered and vegan.
Bottled 2nd February 2015 – 1,848 bottles, 154 doz.
The Wine
The warmest site with rich dense soils reflected in this wine. Complex but refined, with dark chocolate and savoury spice. Sip and uncover the layers of dark fruits with dried figs and prunes, it lingers with star anise spice and walnut tannins.
Drinking...Ready to drink upon release or cellar to 2029.
Alcohol 14% alc/vol
Reviews
94 points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
93 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
92 points - Huon Hook