Companions Tempranillo Garnacha - 2007

REGION
Adelaide Hills & Clare Valley, South Australia

VINEYARD
The Tempranillo came from Paul and Michele Edwards’ Serendipity vineyard in Birdwood and the Garnacha from Sean and Ash Edwards’ Ballingarry vineyard in Armagh, north west Clare. The Tempranillo was picked on 2 April at 13.9° baumé and the Garnacha on 16 March at 14.4° baumé.

GROWING CONDITIONS
In the Adelaide Hills a shorter than usual growing season with warm days and cool nights resulted in steady flavour development and acidity retention in the grapes. The 2007 growing season in the Clare Valley was warm, without any excessive heat spikes. It was also a very dry season with a good rainfall during the last week of January. This had the beneficial effect of refreshing the vines and allowing the grapes to ripen fully whilst retaining their acidity.

WINEMAKING
The two varieties were crushed and fermented separately in stainless steel vats. The Tempranillo was then matured for six months in two year old French oak barriques, while the Garnacha was stored in older French oak hogsheads for six months. The oak had the effect of adding sweet vanilla and spicy cedar characters to the pristine fruit flavours of the wine. The two varieties were blended to achieve an elegant balance of flavours, and this year the best result was achieved with a 50/50 blend.

WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES
An attractive lighter, fresher style of wine with a vibrant, lifted red fruit nose and spicy, vanilla aromas. On the palate there are primary fruit flavours of raspberry and strawberry from the Garnacha combined with prune and plum flavours from the Tempranillo. Additional complexity comes from the subtle savoury aromas of French oak maturation. The light and supple tannins give a palate that is rich, soft and fruity with well-balanced acidity. An excellent drink-now style, with potential for short to medium term bottle maturation.

RELEASED
December 2007

Data sourced from the official Kirrihill website.