Specifications

Region
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale. A sprawling hillside region 10 kms North East of McLaren Vale town centre famous for its added comparative elevation and abundant hillside aspects whose rich ironstone and deep sand deposits forge individual and highly fragrant wines. The Romas Grenache is a single site wine from a bush vine patch planted in the 1940’s. This is the steepest stoniest section of the Blewitt Springs Grenache site previously tasted. The old gnarly bush vines are dry grown and are extremely low yielding. This site has a due East aspect and is located at 240 metres above sea level and represents Blewitt Springs’ higher altitude stony geology with less sands and more quartz, ironstone and shale content. The rocky soils impact most noticeably on reduced yields and added concentration.

Conditions
Idyllic growing conditions with above average crop levels were recorded in 2005 harvest. Bunch thinning was almost looking a certainty to realign the balance of the vines’ concentration however thick vine canopies pulled the fruit in back to line and all fruit was subsequently evenly ripened and every bunch looked exceptional upon arrival at the winery. 2005 vintage is an exceptional vintage and high quality can be seen right across the board with entry level wines and icons alike enjoying one of the best years on record.

Winemaking
Low yielding, dry grown vines from the Blewitt Springs region in McLaren Vale were hand-picked and followed by a 60% whole berry, wild yeast fermentation. All pressings were returned to barrel and eventually bottled onsite without fining or filtration after 18 months in French Oak. The Romas Grenache represents our flagship example of single vineyard old vine Grenache.

Maturation
18 months, within a hierarchy of 1-5 year old tightly grained French Oak. Bottled at the winery with no fining or filtration.
Grape Variety 100% Grenache, single vine, old vines
Closure Cork
Production. 300 Magnums
Winemaker Roman Bratasiuk

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