Dandelion 'Lion's Tooth of McLaren Vale' Shiraz/Riesling

REGION: McLaren Vale,  Australia

VARIETIES: Shiraz 95%, Riesling 5%

VITICULTURE: Conventional

YEAR: 2019

ALCOHOL: 14.5%

INFO: The word Dandelion, from Dente de Lion means 'Lion's Tooth'. From this vineyard, they  co-ferment an almost forgotten but timeless blend of Shiraz and Riesling to enhance the wine's perfume and palate. They encourage the growth of dandelions in the vineyard as they suppress winter weeds and provide mulch in summer. Soils are sandy loam and Pirramimma sandstone.

The Shiraz grapes were hand harvested and whole-bunch fermented with stalks, in open fermenters on top of Riesling skins for 11 days. The cap was hand plunged twice daily before being gently pressed into a mix of new and old French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The wine remained in barrel for 18 months before being racked and bottled without filtration or fining.

Deep red in colour with youthful violet hints, the wine has aromas of rose petals, lifted red fruits and a hint of lime marmalade from the co-fermentation with the aromatic Eden Valley Riesling. Wild cherries, blueberries and balanced, spicy oak make for an opulent palate, with velvety tannins and an intriguing finish.

A perfumed lifted nose from the Riesling, with rich opulent palate from the oaked Shiraz

VEGAN