CRFT 2022 Mencía – The Rohrlach Vineyard (organic)

WILLIAMSTOWN - BAROSSA VALLEY


The Wine
Organically grown and made (uncertified), this is the first release of our new Rohrlach Vineyard Mencía.
A vibrant, fresh, early-drinking style, this wine is all about the fruit.

Strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate on the nose, with fresh beetroot, cinnamon and liquorice. The palate is plush and round, loaded with juicy sweet fruit, it lingers with notes of vanilla and boysenberry.

Enjoy while young and fresh or within two years of release.
Best served cool at 14-16C or enjoy chilled from the fridge in warmer weather.
14.5% alc/vol

The Winemaking
Hand-made at CRFT certified organic winery in Carey Gully.
Hand-picked on the 4th and 6th April 2022.
Destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation with around 2 weeks on skins.
Then pressed to oak for wild malolactic fermentation followed by maturation for 6 months with regular lees stirring.
100% French oak, all seasoned barriques 3yo+. Unfined and unfiltered.
Bottled October 2022. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
Our Rohrlach Mencía comes from the same vineyard as our Old Vine Rohrlach Shiraz. It’s located on the southern fringe of the Barossa Valley wine region, just a couple of kilometres from the boundary of the Adelaide Hills wine region.

The Rohrlach Vineyard has fully converted to organic and regenerative farming practices from 2021 with full Organic Certification to follow.

Vineyard: Owned and farmed by Matt Rohrlach with his parents, Dennis and Carolyn
Location: Williamstown – Peramangk Country – Barossa Valley
Map: 34°41'12.4"S 138°53'58.0"E
Elevation: 320m
Planted: 2019 & 2020
Soil: Dark loam and dense clay scattered with Mica and fool’s gold, making the soil sparkle in the sunlight.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2021 Pinot Noir – The Scanlon Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

The Wine
Packed with red berries, strawberries and cream it’s bright and fresh with a soft supple palate and warm spice.
Drink now or cellar carefully for 5 years. Serve at 15-17C.
13.5% alc/vol. Vegan friendly

The Winemaking
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery. 100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked on 24th March 2021. Cold soaked followed by wild fermentation in an open-top tank with 25% whole bunch. Pressed to barrel once dry for wild malolactic fermentation and maturation. Occasional battonage. Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 40% 1 year old. Bottled 24th January 2022.

The Scanlon Vineyard
Vineyard: Owned and farmed by Justin Scanlon with his son Harry.
Location: Carey Gully, Peramangk Country (Adelaide Hills)
Elevation: 550 meters
Aspect: West facing
Plated: 2008
Clone: 777
Soil: Minimal grey loam topsoil over orange-red clay with shale deposits

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2021 Pinot Noir – The Whisson Lake Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

The Wine
Fragrant and intense with blueberry, violets, cherry ripe and musk, the palate shows concentrated sweet fruit, plush velvety tannins and star anise spice.
Drink now or cellar carefully for 5-10 years. Serve at 15-17C
13.5% alc/vol. Vegan friendly.

The Winemaking
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery. 100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked on 29th March 2021. Cold soaked followed by wild fermentation in an open-top tank with 25% whole bunch. Pressed to barrel once dry for wild malolactic fermentation and maturation. Occasional battonage. Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 25% new oak. Bottled 24th January 2022.

The Whisson Lake Vineyard
Vineyard – Owned and farmed by wife-and-husband duo Andrie and Mark Whisson
Location – Carey Gully, Peramangk Country (Adelaide Hills)
Elevation – 610 meters
Aspect – North East facing
Planted – 1985
Clone – D5V12
Map – -34.967153, 138.751102
Soil – Clay with schist and Gneiss

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2021 Pinot Noir – The Arranmore Vineyard – NASAA Certified Organic

CAREY GULLY – PICCADILLY VALLEY – ADELAIDE HILLS

Wine
Lifted with cherries, blackberry and a perfumed floral note, it shows a smoky savouriness together with nettles and a forest floor earthiness. The palate has silky fruit with fine tannins and nutmeg spice.
Drink now or cellar carefully for 5-10 years. Serve at 15-17C
14.0% alc/vol. Vegan friendly

Winemaking
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% NASAA Certified Organic Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked in three batches from 24th March to 4th April. A blend of two clones, D5V12 and 115.
Cold soaked followed by wild fermentation in an open-top tank with 25% whole bunch.
Pressed to barrel once dry for wild malolactic fermentation and maturation. Occasional battonage. Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 15% new oak. Bottled 24th January 2022.

The Vineyard
Estate-owned, managed and farmed, the 5-acre Arranmore Vineyard has been farmed organically since Frewin & Candice took ownership in January 2016. We gained full NASAA Organic Certification in February 2019.
Location: Carey Gully, Peramangk Country (Adelaide Hills)
Elevation: 545 meters
Aspect: East facing
Planted: 1998
Clones: 115 & D5V12
Map: -34.969091, 138.760670
Soil: Rich dark loam with clay and gravel mix, small pieces of quartz and ironstone sprinkled throughout.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2021 Mencía - The Schmidt Vineyard

VINE VALE - BAROSSA VALLEY

Reviews
93 POINTS - JENI PORT (HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION)
”Matured 10 months in French oak. A bold and fleshy wine, a new addition to the CFRT portfolio, with the promise of a second planting at the Rohrlach Vineyard in the Barossa also coming on stream soon. Black is the abiding theme: black as night in colour, dark blackberries, black licorice, black Vegemite-yeasty savouriness. Generous and supple, it's all wrapped up in bold tannin.”

The Wine
The nose shows beetroot, rhubarb and ripe black mulberries with a creamy mid pallet and blackberry jam finish. Sour cherries, bay leaf and nutmeg in the mix.
Benefits from a little time to breathe upon opening.
Drink at release or cellar to 2026, possibly beyond.
Suggested serving temperature 15-17C.
RRP $31

The Winemaking
Harvested 26th Feb 2021.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Barossa Valley Mencía grapes, hand-picked.
Wild fermented in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel for wild malolactic fermentation and maturation. Occasional bottonage.
Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 25% 1yo old, 75% older oak.
Alcohol- 13.5% alc/vol, Sugar/GF - Dry/<0.1g/L
Bottled 24th January 2022, Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
Elaine Schmidt owns and farms the Mencía vines at Vine Vale (Barossa Valley).
Organically farmed (uncertified) from the 2018/2019 growing season onwards.
Planted: 2012 (half grafted, half planted on own roots)
Soil: Deep sandy loam topsoil, over deep red clay subsoil.
Map: -34.686931, 138.898547

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2021 Shiraz – The Rohrlach Vineyard (old vine)

WILLIAMSTOWN – BAROSSA VALLEY

Reviews
91 POINTS - JENI PORT (HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION)
Destemmed fruit, fermented wild; matured 10 months in French oak (20% new). Old vines, planted 1972, are the basis for this smart young shiraz. Solid Barossa credentials here in inky, dark hues and boldness of cassis, blackberry, cinnamon, clove, anise and smokey cigar-box oak. Tannins are firm and ripe, A bold presence in the glass.

Old Vine Shiraz
Planted in 1972, these vines are officially classified as Barossa Old Vines under the charter rules. That classification is for vines 35 years or older – “Their worthiness has been proven over many vintages, consistently producing the highest quality fruit for Barossa Wines of distinction and longevity”.

The Wine
An intense and lifted wine with red fruits, violets and liquorice. The palate is medium bodied with black pepper and warm spice. Vibrant and youthful at release, it will develop further complexity with careful cellaring.
Benefits from a little time to breathe upon opening.
Drink at release or cellar 5-10 years, possibly beyond.
Suggested serving temperature 16-18C

The Winemaking
Harvested 26th February 2021.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Barossa Valley Shiraz, hand-picked.
The grapes were destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation with a gentle hand plunge two to three times daily during active fermentation. Towards the end of primary fermentation, the wine was pressed to oak for barrel fermentation.
10 months in oak with wild malolactic fermentation followed by maturation.
100% French oak, 20% new, 20% 1 year old, 60% older oak.
Alcohol- 14.0% alc/vol
Bottled 24th January 2022. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
Owned and grown by Dennis and Carolyn Rohrlach with their son Matt, just out of Williamstown (Barossa Valley).

The Rohrlach Vineyard sits on the southern fringe of the Barossa Valley wine region, just a couple kilometers from the boundary of the Adelaide Hills wine region.

Elevation: 320m
Planted: 1972
Map: -34.475005,139.071367
Soil: Rich clay soil scattered with Mica and fool’s gold which makes the soil sparkle in the sunlight.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2020 Pinot Noir – The Budenberg Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

Scores and Reviews
93 POINTS - JAMES SUCKLING
”Aromas of bright red cherries and strawberries sit fresh and lively here with sweet red-floral perfume and a spicy edge, too. The palate has a lithe, juicy feel with impressively pure strawberry fruit flavor and paper-like tannins. So fine and elegant.”

93 POINTS - HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW
”Light red/purple hue, with a smoked-charcuterie overtone to the red-cherry fruit, the palate lean and sinuous, subtly edgy in its texture, with tautness, drive and finesse. A typically lean style of pinot which sparkles with a dash of excitement. This would be lovely with a plate of salumi.”

The Wine
As always, our Budenberg Vineyard Pinot Noir is tightly wound and focussed as a young wine.Showing cranberry and red cherry with an iron stone minerality. Has a touch of nutmeg spice with a perfumed lift that reminds us of jelly crystals and red skins. The palate is intense with a whack of tannins and pop of raspberry.
Will soften and continue to develop complexity and secondary characters with bottle age.
Drink now or cellar for 5-10 years, possibly beyond.
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Alcohol – 13.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF – Dry
Release – 6th August 2021

The Winemaking
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
Harvested 25th March 2020.
100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.
Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank.
25% whole bunch. Gentle hand plunging only.
Pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 30% new oak. Occasional battonage.
Unfined and unfiltered. Bottled February 2021. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
The 2020 grapes were grown & organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson. The vineyard is owned by the Budenberg family.
Elevation – 540 meters
Aspect – East facing
Planted – 1995
Clones – Majority 114 & 115, 1 row MV6
Map – -34.97274,138.744384
Soil – Clay loam and shale with a mix ironstone, blue stone and quartz.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2020 Pinot Noir – The Whisson Lake Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

Scores and reviews
92 POINTS - JAMES SUCKLING
”A pale and elegant pinot noir with fine herbs, blueberries, red cherries and a lifted fragrance. The palate has a captivating sense of intense focus and there’s plenty of tannin pinning the red-cherry fruit in place.”

The Wine
A sweet spice lift with cinnamon and anise over strawberries and cream and cherry ripe. Shows a subtle whole bunch character – it’s like being in a mulberry tree, smelling the fresh leaves while eating the dark ripe sweet berries.
A fresh and lively Pinot at release, the palate is layered with a creamy mouthfeel and silky tannins.
Will soften and continue to develop complexity and secondary characters with bottle age.
Drink now or cellar for 5-10 years, possibly beyond.
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Alcohol – 13.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L
Release – 6th August 2021

The Winemaking
Handmade at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
Harvested 24th March 2020.
100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.
Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank.
25% whole bunch. Gentle hand plunging only.
Pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 30% new oak. Occasional battonage.
Unfined and unfiltered. Bottled February 2021. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
The Whisson Lake Vineyard is owned and organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson.
Elevation: 610 meters
Aspect: North East facing
Planted: 1985
Clones: D5V12, 777, 114,115, MV6
Map: -34.967153, 138.751102
Soil: Clay with schist and Gneiss.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2020 Pinot Noir – The Arranmore Vineyard – NASAA CERTIFIED ORGANIC

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

Scores and Reviews
93 POINTS - JAMES SUCKLING
“A very complex and finely detailed nose here with aromas of blueberries and violets, fragrant spices and sappy forest wood. I like the complexity here. There’s a very smooth, fine feel to the palate with tannins that are supple and layered, carrying ripe red-cherry and blueberry flavors long and fresh.”

Wine
Shy at first, giving charry oak, dried thyme and a savoury note. As it opens the fruit and spice begin to pop with blood plum, pomegranate and a sweet perfumed note. The palate is layered and lengthy, it’s savoury yet sweet, textural and concentrated. With notes of whole bunch, it shows the broody and dark characters we always see with the Arranmore Pinot.
Will soften and continue to develop complexity and secondary characters with bottle age.
Drink now or cellar 5-10 years, possibly beyond.
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Alcohol - 14.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF - Dry/<0.1g/L
Release – 6th August 2021

Winemaking
Handmade at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
Harvested 22nd and 23rd March 2020. A blend of two clones, D5V12 and 115.
100% NASAA Certified Organic Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.
Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank.
25% whole bunch. Gentle hand plunging only.
Pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 25% new oak. Occasional battonage. Unfined and unfiltered.
Bottled February 2021. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
The Arranmore Vineyard has been farmed organically since Frewin & Candice took ownership in January 2016 and is now NASAA Certified Organic (February 2019).
Estate-owned, managed and farmed, the 5-acre Arranmore Vineyard planted from 1995-1998, is situated at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills). Dry grown.
Elevation: 545 meters
Aspect: East facing
Planted: 1998
Clones: 115 & D5V12
Map: -34.969091, 138.760670
Soil: Rich dark loam with clay and gravel mix, small pieces of quartz and ironstone sprinkled throughout.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2020 Shiraz – The Rohrlach Vineyard (old vine)

WILLIAMSTOWN - BAROSSA VALLEY

The Rohrlach Vineyard Shiraz is a new wine to our range and the 2020 vintage is the first release.

Scores and Reviews
92 POINTS – AARON BRASHER, THE REAL REVIEW
Rated #2 of 22 – Top 2020 Shiraz from South Australia, The Real Review.

92 POINTS – MIKE BENNIE, THE WINE FRONT
“Barossa Shiraz. Not straight up, but the colour is a strong look. The alcohol at 15% is a statement too. Great producer here.
Soft, supple, bold red with amazing, satiny texture and general pillowy, gentle feel. Booze soaked forest berries, vanilla cream, dusty spice, graphite tannins and sour cherry to close. Lots of depth, intensity and richness, but a freshness and lift too. Booze a breathy lingering feel, but hey, you’re in the big end of town.”

Old Vine Shiraz
Planted in 1972, these vines are officially classified as Barossa Old Vines under the charter rules. That classification is for vines 35 years or older – “Their worthiness has been proven over many vintages, consistently producing the highest quality fruit for Barossa Wines of distinction and longevity”.

The Wine
An intense and lifted nose with blackberry jam, plum and mulberry, and a subtle savoury smoky note in the background. The palate is rich and dense with concentrated fruit, chocolate notes and a weighty mid-palate, it lingers with sweet spice.
Drinking beautifully at release & will continue to develop with bottle age. Benefits from decanting.
Suggested serving temperature 16-18C.
Drink now or cellar 5-10 years, possibly beyond.
Alcohol – 15% alc/vol
Sugar/GF – Dry
Released – 16th July 2021

The Winemaking
Harvested 28th February 2020.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz, hand-picked.
The grapes were destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation, gentle hand plunge two to three times daily during active fermentation, then pressed to oak while still a little sweet for a few weeks of barrel fermentation. 10 months maturation in oak.
100% French oak, 20% new. Bottled February 2021. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
Owned and grown by Dennis and Carolyn Rohrlach with their son Matt, just out of Williamstown (Barossa Valley).
Elevation: 320m
Planted: 1972
Map: -34.686956, 138.898625
Soil: Rich clay soil scattered with Mica and fool’s gold which makes the soil sparkle in the sunlight.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2020 Mencía - The Schmidt Vineyard

VINE VALE - BAROSSA VALLEY

Introducing our 2020 Mencía - same wine, beautiful new label.

Scores and Reviews
92 POINTS - MIKE BENNIE, THE WINE FRONT
“Mencía from Vine Vale, Barossa Valley. Smells like a cherry Danish pastry! Slippery textured, juicy and bright, cherry juice, cranberry, a web of gentle tannins, lots of cool acidity and a sprinkle of green herbs. I like the vibe here, it feels great to drink. Good energy.”

The Wine
Lifted and aromatic the nose shows raspberry and tea leaves with floral notes of rosewater and Turkish Delight. The palate is fleshy and lush, with fine tannings and a beetroot earthy character.
Ready to drink at release or cellar to 2025 (possibly beyond).
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C
Alcohol - 13.0% alc/vol
Sugar/GF - Dry
Released – 14th May 2021

The Winemaking
Harvested 6th March 2020.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Barossa Valley Mencía grapes, hand-picked.
Wild natural fermented in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, 10 days on skins, then pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 45% 1yo old, 55% older oak.
Bottled February 2021. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard
The Schmidt family own and farm the Mencía vines at Vine Vale in the Barossa Valley.
Organically farmed (uncertified) from 2018/2019 growing season onwards.
Planted - 2012 (half grafted, half planted on own roots)
Soil - Deep sandy loam topsoil, over deep red clay subsoil.
Map -34.495745, 139.010397

Mencía – About the variety
Mencía (pronounced MEN-cee-ah or MEN-thee-ah) is a Spanish native grown mostly in the northwestern corner of Spain and if you enjoy Pinot Noir you should definitely give this a go!
The variety often shows lifted aromatics of red fruit, floral notes and earthy tones. It can be medium to full bodied and suits savoury red meat dishes, poultry or wild game, and vegetarian dishes such as mushroom risotto.
In Australia, there’s just a tiny handful of plantings and producers, with the variety found in South Australia’s McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley as well as the Pyrenees Wine Region in Victoria and Orange in New South Wales.
Australian Mencía will be an exciting variety to watch over the coming decades as our vines age and as we learn how to grow Mencía in our climate.
In 2019 our second planting of Mencía was established at the Rohrlach Vineyard in the Barossa Valley and we look forward to producing our second single vineyard Mencía in the future.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Pinot Noir – The Arranmore Vineyard – NASAA CERTIFIED ORGANIC

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

A fresh new label for 2019 with the same Arranmore Pinot Noir you’ve know & loved for the past 8 vintages.

The Wine

Our first certified organic Arranmore Pinot release and now labelled under our ‘Arranmore Vineyard’ label range. Same wine as always, fresh new label.

Dark cherry and red berry fruit with tobacco and black current. Cardamom and star anise spice lift with hints to licorice. Beautifully textural and concentrated.

Drinking beautifully at release and will continue to develop with bottle age.

Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Cellar for 5-7 years, possibly longer.
Alcohol - 14.0% alc/vol
Sugar/GF - Dry/<0.1g/L
Released - 3rd March 2021

The Winemaking

Harvested 28th March 2019.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% NASAA Certified Organic Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.
Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 8 months in 100% French oak, 25% new oak.
Bottled December 2019. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard

The Arranmore Vineyard has been farmed organically since Frewin & Candice took ownership in January 2016 and is now NASAA Certified Organic (February 2019).

Estate-owned, managed and farmed, the 5-acre Arranmore Vineyard planted from 1995-1998, is situated at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills).

Elevation: 545 meters
Aspect: East facing
Planted: 1998
Clones: 115 & D5V12
Map: -34.969091, 138.760670
Soil: Rich dark loam with clay and gravel mix, small pieces of quartz and ironstone sprinkled throughout.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Pinot Noir – The Budenberg Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

The Wine

An incredibly steep vineyard nestled among the gum trees, 2019 saw extremely low yields with just half a tonne of fruit delivered to our winery.

Red berry and strawberry aromas with lifted sweet spice and savoury smoky notes. A tight and focused mid palate, with nutmeg spice, will benefit from a little air to open.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 2-5 years.
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Alcohol: 14.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF: Dry
RRP: $39
Released: 3rd March 2021

The Winemaking

Harvested 21st March 2019 and hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Matured for 8 months in 100% French oak, 70% new oak.
Bottled December 2019. 34 dozen produced. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard

The fruit was grown & organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson.

The vineyard is owned by the Budenberg family.
Elevation: 540 meters
Aspect: East facing
Planted: 1995
Clones: Majority 114 & 115, 1 row MV6
Map: -34.97274,138.744384
Soil: Clay loam and shale with a mix ironstone, blue stone and quartz.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Pinot Noir – The Whisson Lake Vineyard

PICCADILLY VALLEY - ADELAIDE HILLS

The Wine

A stunning Pinot with dark cherries, violet and eucalyptus notes. Shows smoky oak with a confectionary redskin lift. Beautiful concentrated fruit palate, silky smooth with great intensity. Flavours of charred oak, sweet smoked paprika and dark fruits linger.

Will develop more complexity with bottle age. Benefits from a little time to open in bottle.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for 5-7 years (possibly longer).
Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.
Alcohol: 14.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF: Dry
RRP: $39
Released - 3rd March 2021

The Winemaking

Harvested 21st March 2019.
Hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir, hand-picked.
Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Matured for 8 months in 100% French oak, 20% new oak.
Bottled December 2019. 129 dozen produced. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard

The Whisson Lake Vineyard is owned and organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson.

Elevation: 610 meters
Aspect: North East facing
Planted: 1985
Clones: D5V12, 777, 114,115, MV6
Map: -34.967153, 138.751102
Soil: Clay with schist and Gneiss.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2018 Shiraz – The Fechner Vineyard

MOCULTA - EDEN VALLEY

Wine

The Fechner Vineyard Shiraz is a complex and intriguing wine - a journey in the bottle! A full flavour spectrum as always, blackcurrant and berry fruit, fresh figs and blackberry jam, with savoury meaty notes. The palate smooth and supple, with the tight Eden Valley tannins we know and love. Concentrated rich palate with blood plum, caraway and tar. Plenty of length and oodles of life.

Drinking beautifully at release & will continue to develop with age - cellar 10 to 15 year. Possibly beyond.

Suggested serving temperature 16-18C

Alcohol – 13.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF – Dry

RRP - $45

Released – January 2021

Winemaking

Hand-made at CRFT winery in Carey Gully.

Harvested 13th March 2018. 100% Eden Valley Shiraz, hand-picked.

Grapes destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation, gentle hand plunge two to three times daily. Pressed to oak with 3 weeks barrel fermentation followed by 9 months maturation.

100% French oak, 35% new oak.

Vegan Friendly. Bottled December 2018. 74 dozen produced.

Vineyard

Grown by Graeme and Michael Fechner near Moculta at the northern end of the Eden Valley wine region.

Elevation - 345m

Aspect - East facing

Planted - 1999

Clone - 1654

Rows - 35 to 37

Map - -34.475005,139.071367

Soil - Sitting on the edge of a marble seam, the ancient earth is a mixture of broken grey schist, integrated with shallow limestone and red clay. Packed with minerality.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Mencía - The Schmidt Vineyard

Review

91 POINTS - CAMPBELL MATTINSON (THE WINE FRONT)

CRFT wines always keep things interesting.
This has drinkability written all over it but there’s a bit more to it than that. It’s fruit-driven, soft and berried, maybe a bit floral too, but tea leaf, game and sweet-earthen-root-vegetable characters add that something extra. In fact it tastes like beetroot-at-the-peak-of-its-powers. It’s as delightful as it is delicious. Personally I would drink it now/young but it may well age. Drink : 2020 - 2024+

The Wine

Lifted and aromatic the nose shows blackcurrant, pomegranate and blackberry jam, with secondary characters of beetroot, chocolate bullets and leather polish. Tea leaf and dried prune add to the complexity. Super juicy palate bursting with plush concentrated red fruit and smooth supple tannins.

A beautiful wine to drink right now or watch it age and develop over the coming few years.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 5 years (possibly beyond!).

Suggested serving temperature 16-17C

Alcohol - 13.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF - Dry

RRP - $31

Released - April 2020

The Winemaking

Harvested 5th March 2019. 100% Barossa Valley Mencía grapes, hand-picked.

Hand-made by Candice and Frewin at their winery in Carey Gully.

Wild fermented in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, 10 days on skins, then pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 25% 1yo old, 75% older oak.

Bottled December 2019, 104 dozen produced. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard

The Schmidt family own and farm the Mencía vines at Vine Vale in the Barossa Valley.

Organically farmed (uncertified) from 2018/2019 growing season.

Planted - 2012 (half grafted, half planted on own roots)

Soil - Deep sandy loam topsoil, over deep red clay subsoil.

Map -34.495745, 139.010397

Mencía – About the variety

Mencía (pronounced MEN-cee-ah or MEN-thee-ah) is a Spanish native grown mostly in the northwestern corner of Spain and if you enjoy Pinot Noir you should definitely give this a go!

The variety often shows lifted aromatics of red fruit, floral notes and earthy tones. It can be medium to full bodied and suits savoury red meat dishes, poultry or wild game, and vegetarian dishes such as mushroom risotto. In Australia, there’s just a tiny handful of plantings and producers, with the variety found in South Australia’s McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley as well as the Pyrenees Wine Region in Victoria and Orange in New South Wales. Australian Mencía will be an exciting variety to watch over the coming decades as our vines age and as we learn how to grow Mencía in our climate.

In 2019 our second planting of Mencía was established at the Rohrlach Vineyard in the Barossa Valley and we look forward to producing our second single vineyard Mencía in the future.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2017 Shiraz – The Fechner Vineyard

MOCULTA - EDEN VALLEY

The Wine

As always, the Fechner Vineyard Shiraz displays a full spectrum of flavours from blackberries and figs, cracked pepper and caraway, to Rye bread and cured meat. The palate shows dense fruit and tight tannins and rewards with time to air. Super elegant with lingering star anise and dark chocolate.

Drinking beautifully at release & will continue to develop with age - cellar to 2030.

Suggested serving temperature 16-18C

Alcohol – 14.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF – Dry

RRP - $45

Released – April 2020

The Winemaking

Harvested 23rd March 2017. 100% Eden Valley Shiraz, hand-picked.

Grapes destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation, gentle hand plunge two to three times daily. Pressed to oak with 3 weeks barrel fermentation followed by 10 months maturation.

100% French oak, 25% new oak.

Bottled February 2018, 109 dozen produced. Vegan friendly.

The Vineyard

Grown by Graeme and Michael Fechner near Moculta at the northern end of the Eden Valley wine region.

Elevation - 345m

Aspect - East facing

Planted - 1999

Clone - 1654

Rows - 35 to 37

Map - -34.475005,139.071367

Soil - Sitting on the edge of a marble seam, the ancient earth is a mixture of broken grey schist, integrated with shallow limestone and red clay. Packed with minerality.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2018 Pinot Noir – The Whisson Lake Vineyard

The Wine

A stunning Pinot with dark cherries, violet and eucalyptus notes. Shows smoky oak with a confectionary redskin lift. Beautiful concentrated fruit palate, silky smooth with great intensity. Flavours of charred oak, sweet smoked paprika and dark fruits linger.

Will develop more complexity with bottle age. Benefits from a little time to open in bottle.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for 5-7 years.

Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.

Alcohol: 14.5% alc/vol
Sugar/GF: Dry
RRP: $39
Release: July 2020

The Winemaking

Hand-made by Candice and Frewin at their winery in Carey Gully.

Harvested 17th March 2018, 100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir grapes, hand-picked.

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only,

then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 25% new oak.

Vegan Friendly. Bottled December 2018. 97 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

The Whisson Lake Vineyard is owned and organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson. 

Elevation:     610 meters
Aspect:        North East facing
Planted:       1985
Clones:        D5V12, 777, 114,115, MV6
Map:           -34.967153, 138.751102

Soil: Clay with schist and Gneiss.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2018 Pinot Noir – The Arranmore Vineyard

The Wine

Charry, smoky and savoury as always, broody and a little shy at first. Lovely lift of dried herbs and forest notes, with light red berries, cherry and cassis. Smooth palate with pepper, cumin and tobacco flavours. More on the savoury spectrum while first drinking, opens with lovely sweet fruit. Will develop more complexity with bottle age.

Drinking well at release, it will benefit from air and time to open in bottle.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for 5 years.

Suggested serving temperature 16-17C

Alcohol: 13.5% alc/vol.
Sugar/GF: Dry
Release: July 2020

The Winemaking

Hand-made by Candice and Frewin at their winery in Carey Gully.

Harvested 14th March 2018. 100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir grapes, hand-picked.

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 20% new oak.

Vegan Friendly. Bottled December 2018.

The Vineyard

The Arranmore Vineyard has been farmed organically since Frewin & Candice took ownership in Jan 2016 and is now NASAA Certified Organic (since February 2019). The 2018 vintage Pinot Noir is organically grown and In-Conversion to Organics.

Elevation:  545 meters
Aspect: East facing
Planted: 1998
Clones:  115
Map: -34.969091, 138.760670

Soil: Rich dark loam with clay and gravel mix, small pieces of quartz and ironstone sprinkled throughout.

The Vintage

A very warm and dry year, producing full flavoured wines. Very few extremely hot days but above average temperatures overall.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2018 Pinot Noir – The Broderick Vineyard

The Wine

Initially showing whole-bunch characters with mint, charred-grilled capsicum and a fresh herb edge, then opens to show blackcurrant and blackberry jam with tobacco notes. Warm spice of cinnamon with fresh coconut, licorice and a caramel lift. The palate is smooth with charred smoky oak and finishes with tight tannins and red fruit.

Will develop more complexity with bottle age. Benefits from a little time to open in bottle.

Ready to drink at release or cellar for 5-7 years.

Suggested serving temperature 16-17C.

Alcohol: 13.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF: Dry

RRP: $39

Release: July 2020

The Winemaking

Harvested 3rd March 2018, 800kg.

Hand-made by Candice and Frewin at their winery in Carey Gully.

100% Basket Range Pinot Noir grapes, hand-picked.

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, 25% whole bunch, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry for malolactic fermentation and maturation.

Matured for 9 months in 100% French oak, 40% new oak.

Vegan friendly. Bottled December 2018. 58.5 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

The Broderick Vineyard is owned and organically farmed (uncertified) by the Broderick family – Phil & Mary, with their sons Louis & Sholto.

Elevation:  440 meters

Aspect: East facing

Planted: 2000

Clones: 50% MV6, 50% 777

Map: -34.930604, 138.778963

Soil: Rocky with sandstone and quartz through clay.