After Death, new life shoots forth, signalling rebirth, rejuvenation and transformation. The Death Card embodies our signature style of grenache – a new era for the variety in McLaren Vale as a bright, juicy red wine. Traditionally, McLaren Vale grenache was heavy and over-oaked, trying to imitate Shiraz. We don’t believe this is the best way to get the most of out of grenache – favouring lively acidity, low tannin extraction and drinkability first and foremost. A ‘Nouveaux’ wine in more ways than one.
Winemaking
The vineyards for this wine was 42% from Springfarm Vineyard and 14% from Bell vineyards, both in the McLaren Vale subregion of Whites Valley and 44%, from Zuzulo Vineyard in Sellicks Hill subregion of McLaren Vale. For fermentation, the portion from Zuzulo vineyard was hand picked in the early morning and fermented as 100% whole bunches – sealed up for five days of carbonic maceration, then footstomped daily with a total of 10 days on skins. The Bell and Springfarm portion was machine harvested in the early morning, destemmed retaining as much whole berry as possible, wild fermented until dry in a static dermenter with 15 minute pump-overs twice daily.
Tasting Notes
NOSE: Red apple skins, cranberries and white pepper spice.
PALATE: Distinctive tannins that give way to a playful-yet-soft acidity, not heavy, but still has plenty of presence.
PAIR: Your favourite movie.
CELLAR: Up to 5 years.