Patritti Wines Section 181 Single Vineyard Grenache 2018

2018 Section 181 Single Vineyard Grenache McLaren Vale

Giovanni Patritti purchased Section 181 Branson Road, Tatachilla in the region of McLaren Vale in 1960 to further the family’s vineyard holdings. Among other varieties, a section of the property was planted to Grenache. Today, fifteen acres of the original dry grown Grenache vines remain and are used to make this single vineyard wine.

VINEYARD

Located less than 4km from the Gulf of St Vincent, the Tatachilla vineyard’s climate is slightly cooler due to the prevailing sea breezes. The soil is characterised as yellow and buff sandstone, pebbly sandstone, and clay, providing ideal conditions for the old, dry grown Grenache vines with an average age of 50 years.

VINTAGE

Spring started cool keeping vines dormant and delaying bud burst. Temperatures warmed with above average rainfall providing healthy canopies on the vines to begin summer. Very hot conditions in January and February slightly reduced crop levels in some varieties before finishing with a dry, sunny growing season. Despite a small reduction in volume, the fruit was very good quality with ripe flavours and tannin at low sugar levels.

VINIFICATION

Harvested at optimal flavour and tannin ripeness, the low yielding (2.4t/acre) fruit was hand picked before being transferred to the historic Patritti winery in Dover Gardens. The fruit was fermented in small batches with a small percentage (5%) fermented as whole bunches to bring out the individual characters. Left on skins for up to ten days, the ferments were regularly tasted to ensure the resulting wine was soft and not over extracted. Using a gentle hand, the ferments were pressed, blended then transferred to 94% seasoned 6 % new French demi muid barrels for fifteen months.

TASTING COMMENTS

Medium to deep brick red with a ruby hue; the aromatics of the wine are intense and complex with lifted fruit characters of raspberry and black cherry. The palate is rounded and juicy, the structural tannins keep it tight, but the wine is balanced and generous. Drink now or cellar for 10+ years.