Hazel's Vineyard Zinfandel

2020 Hazel's Zinfandel

Harvest Notes
We were blessed with near perfect growing conditions in Margaret River in 2020. A warmer than usual spring, a dry and sunny summer and cool nights. Significant diurnal temperature variations ensured perfect ripening conditions in all our dryland vineyards. With no disease and virtually no bird pressure (especially at the beginning of harvest), we were able to harvest beautifully clean fruit at ideal ripeness and flavour levels... a real treat for our winemaking team. The only downside was the exceptionally low yields across all varieties. Our dry-farmed vineyard responded to the drier seasonal conditions by producing small, light bunches with small berries. As a result, the fruit has incredible concentration and has retained a lovely natural acidity.

Grapes
100% Single Vineyard Zinfandel, clone Lodi

District of Origin
100% Margaret River

Vineyard
100% Hazel's Vineyard. Our southernmost vineyard, further inland than our Burnside and Calgardup vineyards, combines cooling influences from the Southern Ocean with a northern orientation and abundant sunlight. The fruit comes from a small block on the west side of our property, where the Lodi clone vines deliver small, intense clusters.

Winemaking
The grapes were harvested in the early morning hours and transferred by gravity into concrete vats without crushing the berries. Primary fermentation was completed by indigenous yeasts and the wine was gently pressed in old American and French oak barrels after 8 days for malolactic fermentation. After maturing for 16 months in our cellars, the wine was bottled without fining in September 2021 after coarse filtration.