2021 Geelong Nebbiolo

Vineyard
Situated on the slopes of the Moorabool Valley, this north-facing vineyard features a mix of gravel and clay soils over a limestone base. The combination of dry growing conditions and well-drained soils adds a complex mineral note to the fruit. Although the vines work hard, in favourable seasons, the balance between vigour and fruit weight is nearly perfect. The vines are cane-pruned and trained using a Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) trellis system.

Growing Season
2020/2021 was an interesting season, with rain and humidity constant throughout, but plenty of sunshine. The hard work in the vineyard kept the canopies open and the fruit clean. From November to early February, it was moist and mild; then a welcome stretch of sunshine and even temperatures helped ripening along, locking in that lovely natural acidity and flavour, while also ensuring those Nebbiolo tannins achieve physiological ripeness. with the picking of outstanding fruit in late April. 

Winemaking 
The fruit was 100% destemmed to an open fermenter, where indigenous fermentation began after two days. Gentle hand plunging and pump overs encouraged an even extraction of colour and tannin. After fourteen days, the wine was pressed off and rested in a combination of large old French oak hogsheads for fifteen months before bottling.  

Independent Review
"Quite reductive initially, opening up with a bit of air. Typical colour, amaro and mountain herbs quality, blood orange skin, cranberries, cherries and dried strawberries. On the palate, there are also some raspberries, rose petals, and a bit of vanilla, as well as an aspect of gamey savouriness. Tannins are slowly building and quite sandy; the body is fine. This is a new school Nebbiolo done pretty well, but it is still missing that ‘x-factor’, to be elevated to Olympus." 91 Points
Lisa Cardelli, WinePilot.com Tasted March 2025