90 points - "A curious ensemble of purple flowers, spruce, menthol, forest scents, crushed dark fruit and camphor. A powerful wine that manages a winning savoriness by virtue of its sturdy tannins and generosity of fruit at its core. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ned Goodwin MW (James Suckling)

The ‘Purple One’ is our all-rounder: anywhere, anytime with anything. A wine that comes from our amazingly textured McLaren Vale landscape representing the diversity possible of blended red wine. The climatic suitability of both Grenache and Touriga to the South Australian climate
means fewer inputs required in the winery delivering wines with amazing depth, complexity, and flavour. Grenache brings lifted aromatics and its trademark sandy tannins. Shiraz chimes in with red fruits, spice, and weight, whilst the Touriga Nacional adds punchy plum pudding, dried spice and florals. The resultant wine is so much more than just the sum of its parts and is always irresistible.

THE VINTAGE
Mostly joyous but not without its challenges. Good winter rain led to strong growth with good cover in the mid row and under vine well into summer. Nervous expectation after two low yielding years muted conversations about the potential for a good year right up until harvest.

No disease pressure, good canopies and plentiful bunches lead to a long ripening season. Some varieties tested patience and drew out vintage well into May. The greatest challenge was having enough hours in the day and people to help with harvesting the plentiful and perfectly ripe fruit.

WINEMAKING
Variety:
68% Grenache | 20% Shiraz | 12% Touriga Nacional
Varietal Origin:
Spain, France and Portugal
Vineyard:
Aldersey Grenache, Olivers Rd Shiraz and Koomilya Touriga Nacional

Process:
The Grenache and Shiraz were picked in late February, crushed and co-fermented spending 8 days on skins before gentle pressing. Racked after 10 days settling in tank and sent to French oak puncheon for Maloactic fermentation and short term maturation.

The Touriga was picked in early April, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel with daily pump overs before pressing after 12 days on skins and sent to vat for malolactic fermentation and short-term maturation.

The final blend was decided in October 2021 and the majority matured in large, old, French-oak vat for 9 months. Bottled early August 2022 without finning or filtration.

Alcohol 14.5%
Ph 3.58
TA 5.4
Total Sulphur 59 ppm

FLAVOUR:
Lavender, lilac, luxury and liquorice aromas capture the senses before a harmonious key change revealing black grapes, black cherry, incense, musk lollies and rose petals strangely reminiscent of a Gregorian chant. There is a timeless character to the GST that has evolved and continues to impress.

STRUCTURE & TEXTURE:
A flow that is seamless, plush and generous like a set of precious velvet curtains. The textures are mouth filling with flavours of violet and Frutto di Bosco. There’s perfume on the finish and tannins that restrain and shape the fruit weight adding a savoury nib to the length.

CELLARING:
No waiting necessary, but if you must, give it 10 years in a cool cellar.

SERVING:
A Swiss army wine, drink it with everything.