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 2019 Chardonnay - The Arranmore Vineyard

The Wine

Lemon and lime at first with savoury biscuity flavours and orange zest. Toasty oak flavours and vanilla spice interlaced perfectly with the aromatics and bouquet. The palate jumps with stone fruit, mango and apricot and perfectly balance natural acidity. Showing exceptional length with the classic Arranmore Chardonnay pine-lime creamy flavour lingering on and on.

An elegant and restrained Chardonnay, that opens to show an amazing breadth of flavour.

Drinking beautifully at release and will continue to develop with bottle age. Cellar 10 years, possibly longer.

Suggested serving temperature 7-10C

Alcohol - 12.5% alc/vol

The Winemaking 

Harvested 8th March 2019. 100% NASAA Certified Organic Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, hand-picked.

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

Whole bunch pressed followed by wild fermentation on full solids in tank, then transferred to oak for barrel fermentation around half way through ferment.

Some light lees stirring with full malo-lactic fermentation in oak.

Matured for 7 months in 100% French oak, 50% 1yo, 50% 2yo oak.

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 - 1994

Map - 34°58'07.5"S 138°45'38.1"E

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

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2018 Theia Chardonnay - Arranmore Vineyard

The Arranmore Vineyard

Owned, managed and farmed by Frewin & Candice, the 5 acre Arranmore Vineyard planted from 1995-1998, is situated at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills).

Organically farmed since January 2016, it was certified in April 2018 as ‘In-Conversion to organic’ by NASAA.

Full NASAA Organic certification to follow in Jan 2019.

The vineyard is east facing and sits at 550 meters above sea level.

The Winemaking

100% NASAA Certified ‘IN-CONVERSION TO ORGANIC’ Chardonnay grapes and wine.

Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed with wild fermentation on full solids starting in tank.

Transferred to oak for barrel fermentation about half way through ferment.

25% new oak, 75% older used oak, 100% French, 6 months barrel maturation.

Occasional lees stir with full malo-lactic fermentation.

Wild ferment, unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled October 2018, 90 dozen.

The Wine

Complex nose with biscuity oak and pine-lime splice with fresh white peach and coconut. The palate layered and textural, with fine acidity finishing with macadamia nuts and lingering stone fruit. Benefits from a little time to open.

Ready to drink at release, cellar 5-7 years, possibly beyond.

Alcohol 12.1% alc/vol.

Sugar/GF Dry / <0.1g/l

RRP $45

Released May 2019

SOLD OUT - 2017 Chardonnay - Arranmore Vineyard

The Arranmore Vineyard               

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).

The Arranmore Vineyard has been farmed organically since January 2016 and will undergo the process to become NASAA Certified Organic in 2018.

The vineyard is East facing and sits at 550 meters above sea level.

The Winemaking               

Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed to tank on full solids, allowing wild fermentation to progress in tank. Transferred to oak for barrel fermentation about half way through ferment. 40% new oak, 60% older used oak, 100% French, 6 months in barrel. Lees stirred in oak for a few months, with full MLF. Wine remained on full lees until racked before bottling.

Unfined and unfiltered. Small SO2 addition pre-bottling, no other additions. Bottled October 2017, 63 dozen.

The Wine                                 

2017 vintage is the first release of the Theia Chardonnay.

Funky and flinty with warm toasted hazelnut, sesame seed, citrus and peach.
Shows shortbread and apricot stone fruit and an utterly creamy mouthfeel with soft lingering acidity.

Ready to drink at release, will improve with bottle age.

Alcohol 11.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF Dry / <0.1g/L

RRP Release  $45

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+.

Alcohol – 14.5% alc/vol

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. 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.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2016 The Fechner Vineyard Shiraz

The Wine                                  

Dark chocolate and cardoman notes with fresh blackcurrent, blueberry and dried prune fruit. Full bodied, rich and dark with smooth velvety tannins. Spicy and warm, with black olives and pepper. With all it’s power and length, it still shines with elegance and bright fruit.

Drinking... Drinking beautifully right now at release, and will continue to develp with age - cellar to 2030, possibly beyond.

Alcohol: 15% alc/vol

The Winemaking                              

Hand-picked and destemmed to open-top tank for fermentation with 15% whole bunches, then gently hand plunged two to three times daily.

Pressed directly to oak with 3 weeks barrel fermentation followed by 10 months maturation – 100% French oak, 30% new oak.

Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled:  10th February 2017

Production:  92 dozen

The Vineyard                                  

Fechner Vineyard is owned & farmed by brothers Michael Fechner & Graeme Fechner near Moculta in the northern end of the Eden Valley.

The Fechner Vineyard is unique being one of only a few eastern facing vineyards in the Eden Valley region.  The eastern slope which offers cooler daytime temperatures, together with higher altitude and cool valley winds produces optimum growing conditions for Shiraz.

Site location: Moculta – Eden Valley

Map coordinates: -34.475005,139.071367

Clone:  1654

Planted: 1999

Elevation: 345m

Aspect: East facing

Harvest: 7th March 2016

Tonnes:  1.33T

Soil:  Broken Grey schist integrated with shallow limestone and red clay, very complex ancient soil. 

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Grüner Veltliner – The Arranmore Vineyard - NASAA Certified organic

CRFT 2019 Arranmore Vineyard Grüner Veltliner is our first NASAA Certified Organic wine and the very first release of our estate-owned and grown Grüner Veltliner.

The Wine

We are so happy with the first release of our home-grown Grüner. Already showing the wonderful traits of this Austrian native , with poached quince, fresh pear and dill. Gives notes of parsnip and marmalade, with a mouth filling textural palate of pepper and spice over layers of stone fruit.  

Drinking beautifully at release and will continue to develop with bottle age. Cellar up to 8 years and possibly beyond.

Some light lees present which will settle by standing upright in the fridge, or simply drink cloudy and enjoy as is! The lees are a natural part of the winemaking process and do not impact the quality of the wine.

Alcohol - 13.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF - Dry/<0.1g/L

RRP - $30

Release – 11th October 2019

The Winemaking

Harvested 29th March 2019, 1.9 tonnes

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

100% Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner, hand-picked in the cool morning.

Around half of the batch underwent skin contact for 48 hours prior to press.

Whole bunch pressed followed by wild fermentation on full solids. Fermented cool and slow in stainless steel and unoaked. Some light lees stirring prior to settling and racking.

Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled 13th August 2019, 135 dozen produced.

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 - Grafted on 20 year old Sauvignon Blanc vines, winter 2017. Cuttings from Geoff Hardy’s K1 vineyard Grüner Veltliner.

Clone - Elite

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

Map - -34.969564, 138.760102

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Grüner Veltliner – The K1 Vineyard

The Wine

Our seventh vintage producing this lovely wine from Kuitpo. The nose loaded with grapefruit, citrus and lime leaf, along with subtle notes of just-picked dill, fresh cucumber, celery and white pepper. The palate has a minerally flinty edge and direct acid line with savoury textural notes and oodles of fresh-cut stone fruit. The anise spice character lingers on the finish.

Drinking beautifully at release and will continue to develop with bottle age. Cellar up to 8 years and possibly beyond.

Some light lees present which will settle by standing upright in the fridge, or simply drink cloudy and enjoy as is! The lees are a natural part of the winemaking process and do not impact the quality of the wine. 

Alcohol - 13.0% alc/vol

Sugar/GF - Dry / <0.1g/l

RRP - $30

Release – 11th October 2019

The Winemaking

Harvested 6th March 2019, 1.57 tonnes.

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

100% Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner, hand-picked in the cool morning.

Around half of the batch underwent skin contact for 38 hours prior to press.

Whole bunch pressed followed by wild fermentation on full solids. Fermented cool and slow in stainless steel and unoaked. Some light lees stirring prior to settling and racking. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled 13th August 2019, 123 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

Geoff Hardy grows our K1 Vineyard Grüner Veltliner from his beautiful property at Kuitpo, Adelaide Hills.

Elevation - 300 to 320m  

Aspect - North West facing

Planted - 2008 (grafted)

Clone - Elite

Soil - Rocky, flinty ground with ironstone and sandstone, and orange clay loam.

Map - -35.226406,138.668736

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2019 Grüner Veltliner – The Longview Vineyard

The Wine

Punchy guava and mango with freshly cut granny smith apple, the nose is lifted and intense. The palate weighty with a wet slate character that is swept with textural layers and savoury grilled cheddar cheese notes.

Drinking beautifully at release and will continue to develop with bottle age. Cellar up to 8 years and possibly beyond.

Some light lees present which will settle by standing upright in the fridge, or simply drink cloudy and enjoy as is! The lees are a natural part of the winemaking process and do not impact the quality of the wine.

Alcohol - 13.5% alc/vol

Sugar/GF - Dry / <0.1g/l

RRP - $30

Release - 11th October 2019

The Winemaking

Harvested 27th February 2019, 1.6 tonnes.

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

100% Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner, hand-picked in the cool morning.

Around half of the batch underwent skin contact for 24 hours prior to press.

Whole bunch pressed followed by wild fermentation on full solids. Fermented cool and slow in stainless steel and unoaked. Some light lees stirring prior to settling and racking. Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled 13th August 2019, 118 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

Brothers Peter and Mark Saturno and Vineyard Manager Dino Cotsaris grow our Longview Vineyard Grüner Veltliner at Macclesfield, Adelaide Hills.

Elevation - 300 to 320m

Aspect - South facing steep slope

Planted - 2011 on own roots

Clones - Iby, HHW A1-2, HHW A1-3

Soil - Rocky, scattered with ironstone and quartz. Fine silt and sandy loam topsoil, dense clay and loam subsoil.

Map - -35.192097, 138.821556

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2017 The Broderick Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Wine                                

A delicate perfumed nose, with raspberry, christmas cake and candied citrus peel. The palate showing plum fruit and red berries, with warm spice notes.

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

Drinking:     Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 5 years.

Alcohol:      12.5% alc/vol

RRP:          $39

Release:      Winter 2019

The Winemaking 

100% Basket Range Pinot Noir grapes.

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

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

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry.

Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 15% new oak.

Wild ferment, unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled February 2018, 150 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

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

Site location:      Basket Range – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates:    -34.930604, 138.778963

Clones:              50% MV6, 50% 777

Planted:             2000

Elevation:           440 meters

Aspect:              East facing

Harvest:             26th March 2017

Tonnes:              2T

Soil: Rocky with sandstone and quartz through clay. 

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2017 The Budenberg Vineyard Pinot Noir

Wine                                

Classic Budenberg showing violets, fresh black cherry and strawberry jam, with musky notes and background characters of nutmeg spice and a savoury smokiness. Fine grainy tannins and a concentrated juicy mouthfeel, with minerally ironstone and tobacco notes.

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

Drinking:     Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 5 years.

Alcohol:      14% alc/vol

RRP:          $39

Release:      Winter 2019

Winemaking     

100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir grapes.

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

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

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry.

Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 30% new oak.

Wild ferment, unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled February 2018, 79 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

The Budenberg Vineyard is managed & organically farmed (uncertified) by Mark & Andrie Whisson. The vineyard is owned by the Budenberg family.

Site location:      Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates:    -34.97274,138.744384

Clones:              Majority 114 & 115, 1 row MV6

Planted:             1995

Elevation:           540 meters

Aspect:              East facing

Rows:                19, 37-44, 66-69, 74-76.

Harvest:             7thApril 2017

Tonnes:              1.1T

Soil:         Clay loam and shale with a mix ironstone, blue stone and quartz. An incredibly steep and rocky site.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2017 The Whisson Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Wine                                

Violets, dark cherries and black forest cake, yet earthy with porcini mushrooms and forest notes. Velvety mouthfeel, with concentrated fruit and great intensity.

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

Drinking:     Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 5 years.

Alcohol:      14.5% alc/vol

RRP:          $39

Release:      Winter 2019

The Winemaking 

100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir grapes.

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

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

Cold soak prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry.

Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 15% new oak.

Wild ferment, unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled February 2018, 140 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

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

Site location:      Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates:    -34.967153, 138.751102

Clones:              D5V12, 777, 114,115, MV6

Planted:             1985

Elevation:           610 meters

Aspect:              North East facing

Harvest:             13thApril 2017

Tonnes:              2T

Soil: Clay with schist and Gneiss.

SOLD OUT - CRFT 2017 The Arranmore Vineyard Pinot Noir

Wine

A mix of red and black berries, with ripe dark cherry fruit and fig jam. Broody as always with tea leaves, juniper berries and savoury meaty notes. Fine lengthy tannins are surrounded by sweet concentrated fruit, the palate already showing great power and length.

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

Drinking:     Ready to drink at release or cellar for up to 5 years.

Alcohol:      14% alc/vol.

RRP:          $39

Release:      Winter 2019

Winemaking

100% Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir grapes.

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

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

Cold soaked prior to wild fermentation in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel once dry.

Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 15% new oak.

Wild ferment, unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled February 2018, 157 dozen produced.

The Vineyard

The Arranmore Vineyard is owned and farmed by Candice & Frewin. Purchased in March 2016, the vineyard has been farmed organically since purchase and is now NASAA certificed organic from Feb 2019.

Site location:      Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates:    -34.969091, 138.760670

Clones:             115

Planted:            1998

Elevation:           545 meters

Aspect:              East facing

Harvest:            13thApril 2017

Tonnes:             2T

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

SOLD OUT - 2015 CRFT SHIRAZ - THE FECHNER VINEYARD

The Vineyard               

Owned and farmed by Graeme and Michael Fechner at Moculta in the Eden Valley.

Site location:    Moculta – Eden Valley

Map coordinates: -34.475005,139.071367

Clone:            1654

Planted:          1999

Elevation:        345m

Aspect:           East facing

Rows:             35 to 37

Harvest:          4thMarch 2015

Tonnes:           2.1T

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

The Winemaking               

Hand-picked in the cool of the morning and gently destemmed to preserve whole berries.

Fermented in an open top tank with a light hand plunge two-three times daily.

Basket pressed directly to oak with 3 weeks’ barrel fermentation followed by 10 months’ maturation in oak - 80% French, 20% American, 15% new oak.

Unfined, unfiltered, vegan.

Bottled on 15th February 2016, 140 dozen produced.

The Wine                                 

Meaty and savoury with smoky notes and black cardamom, yet lifted with bright fruits, berries and fresh plum. Dense and layered, every mouthful offers more to the story. The soil, the minerality, the small sweet dark berries all there, giving a wine of great elegance and depth.  Complex and intriguing as always and classically Eden – it opens, grows and evolves with every glass.

Alcohol: 14.0% alc/vol

RRP: $45

Release: 2017 Winter release

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 - 2016 CRFT PINOT NOIR - THE WHISSON LAKE VINEYARD

The Vineyard               

The Whisson Lake Vineyard is owned and farmed by Mark & Andrie Whisson.

Site location:    Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates: -34.967153, 138.751102

Clones:           D5V12, 777, 114,115, MV6

Planted:          1985

Elevation:        610 meters

Aspect:           North East facing

Harvest:          23rdMarch 2016

Tonnes:           903kg

Soil: Clay with schist and Gneiss.

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, 65 dozen produced.

The Wine                                 

Our first wine produced from this beautiful Piccadilly Valley vineyard.

Elegant and alluring, perfumed and lifted with blueberries, red fruits and an almond nuttiness. Round with an oily, sweet texture, lengthy and powerful, classically Whisson Lake.

Drinking:   Drink at release, will improve with cellaring

Alcohol:    14% alc/vol.

RRP:        $39

Release:    Autumn 2018 

SOLD OUT - 2016 CRFT PINOT NOIR - THE BUDENBERG VINEYARD

The Vineyard               

The Budenberg Vineyard is managed & farmed by Mark & Andrie Whisson. The vineyard is owned by Ian & Rosie Budenberg.

Site location:    Piccadilly Valley – Adelaide Hills

Map coordinates: -34.97274,138.744384

Clones:           Majority 114 & 115, 1 row of MV6

Planted:          1995

Elevation:        540 meters

Aspect:           East facing

Rows:             19, 37-44, 66-69, 74-76.

Harvest:          15th March 2016

Tonnes:           2.1T

Soil:       Clay loam and shale with a mix ironstone, blue stone and quartz. An incrediblysteep and rocky site.

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, 169 dozen produced.