SOLD OUT - 2016 CRFT PINOT NOIR - THE CHAPEL VALLEY VINEYARD

The Vineyard               

The Chapel Valley Vineyard is owned and farmed by Sam Virgara.

Site location:    Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates: -34.974428,138.737142

Clones:           114 & 115

Planted:          2000

Elevation:        490 meters

Aspect:           South facing

Rows:             10 to 14

Harvest:          16thMarch 2016

Tonnes:           1.8T

Soil: Grey sandy loam with a gravel mix, clay subsoil.

The Winemaking               

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

Grapes hand-picked & gently destemmed to retain whole berries with 25% whole bunches.

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, then pressed to barrel once dry. Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 15% new oak.

Lees stirred in barrel for a few months.

Wild fermented, unfined, unfiltered and crafted with minimal additives, all CRFT wines are vegan.

Bottled February 2017, 105 dozen produced.

The Wine                                 

Elegantly perfumed, spearmint, nutmeg, red fruits and citrus peel. The silky texture combines with sweet wild strawberry flavours, licorice and fresh bay leaf.

Drinking:   Drink at release, will improve with cellaring.

Alcohol:    14% alc/vol.

RRP:        $39

Release:    Autumn 2018 

Download the technical info.

SOLD OUT - 2015 PINOT NOIR - CHAPEL VALLEY VINEYARD

The Vineyard                                  

Chapel Valley Vineyard is owned and farmed by Sam Virgara.

Site location: Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates: -34.974428,138.737142

Pinot Noir Clones: 114 & 115

Planted: 2000

Elevation: 490 meters

Aspect: South facing

Rows:  10 to 14

Soil: Grey sandy loam with a gravel mix, clay subsoil.

Harvest: 26th March 2015

Tonnes: 2.51T

The Winemaking                               

Hand-picked, gently destemmed to retain whole berries with 20% whole bunches, five-day cold soaked prior to fermentation in stainless steel.

Gently hand plunged twice daily, allowing ferment temperature to peak at 30°C, 14 days on skins.

Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak barrels, 15% new oak, lees stirred in barrel for two months.

Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled 15th February 2016 – 168 dozen

The Wine                                 

Leeks grew on this gravelly south-facing slope until Sam Virgara decided to plant what is now one of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley.

The coolness of this south facing site always produces our most textural Pinot Noir, and often the lightest in colour. Orange-peel and spearmint showing again this year, a unique Chapel Valley character we see every year, as well as the abundant fresh blueberries and strawberry. Bright and lively, elegant as always, with a silky textural mouthfeel.

Drinking: Ready to drink now. Cellar to 2025, perhaps beyond.

Alcohol: 13.5% alc/vol

Reviews                                 

94 points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion

92 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

Download the technical info.

SOLD OUT - 2014 PINOT NOIR - CHAPEL VALLEY VINEYARD

Reviews                                 
94 points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion

93 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

The Wine                                 
Leeks grew on this gravelly south facing slope until Sam Virgara decided to plant one of the best Pinot Noir vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley. Lifted cherry, spearmint and citrus, with hints of lavender and forest. The palate wind swept with sandy tannin.
Drinking... Ready to drink upon release or cellar to 2026.
Alcohol 13.5% alc/vol

The Winemaking                               
Hand-picked and destemmed to an open-top fermenter with 20% whole bunches, followed by a 5 day cold soak prior to fermentation.
Gently hand plunged twice daily, with the ferment temperature peaking at 30°C.
Pressed directly to oak for 10 months maturation, 100% French, 20% new oak, lees stirred in oak for 2 months.
Bottled 2nd February 2015. Vegan friendly.

Chapel Valley Vineyard                               
Owned and farmed by Sam Virgara.
Site location: Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills
Map coordinates: -34.974428,138.737142
Clones: 114 & 115
Planted: 2000
Elevation: 490 meters
Aspect: South facing
Soil: Dark loam and clay at the top of the slope, going to grey sandy loam towards bottom of the rows, gravel mix, clay subsoil.

Download the technical info.

SOLD OUT - 2013 PINOT NOIR - CHAPEL VALLEY VINEYARD

The Vineyard                                  

Chapel Valley Vineyard is owned and farmed by Sam Virgara.

Site location: Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates: -34.974428,138.737142

Clones: 114 & 115

Planted: 2000

Elevation: 490 meters

Soil: Dark loam and clay at the top of the slope, going to grey sandy loam towards bottom of the rows, gravel mix, clay subsoil.

Aspect: South facing

Harvest: 14th March 2013

Tonnes: 2.35T

The Winemaking                               

Hand-picked and destemmed to an open-top fermenter with 20% whole bunches, followed by a 4 day cold soak prior to fermentation.

Gently hand plunged twice daily, with the ferment temperature peaking at 30°C.

Basket pressed directly to oak for 10 months maturation, 100% French, 35% new oak.

Unfined, unfiltered and vegan.

Bottled 25th February 2014 – 2,232 bottles

The Wine                                 

Tucked away on a south facing slope, this cold, sandy block delivers a unique mix of Mulberry, spearmint and orange peel.

The thirst quenching acidity and minerally tannins will keep you craving for more.

Drinking...Drink now or cellar to 2025.

Alcohol 13.5% alc/vol

Bottled 25th February 2014 – 2,232 bottles

Reviews                                 

95 points - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion

94 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

Download the technical info.