Single Vineyard Iluma Syrah 2021

Iluma Syrah 2021

Winemaker: Erinn Klein

Grape(s): Syrah (Shiraz)

GI: Adelaide Hills (Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia)

Site(s): Iluma Vineyard

Vintage notes: The wines of 2021 have come together beautifully, after a near perfect growing season and vintage conditions. For the first time in a few years we had reasonable winter rains going into the spring of 2020 and also some good follow-up rains right into early summer.

There was no late season frost, no hail, and amazing weather conditions during flowering. We also had a much milder than average summer in 2021 with no severe heat spikes. This resulted in a perfectly long ripening season and optimal ripening conditions.

It’s rare that amazing quality, concentration of flavour and finesse comes together with such generous quantity. Truly an outstanding vintage.

Vineyard notes: On the northern slope of the Mount Barker Summit, at an altitude of 420m, is the Iluma Vineyard, home of Ngeringa’s most inspiring and exciting grapes we grow. The majority of Ngeringa Syrah and Viognier is planted in the Iluma vineyard, facing west on lean, textured soil of micaceous schist and ironstone over clay. The Iluma vineyard is also long certified biodynamic with no chemical sprays applied.

Winemaking: The Syrah is gently hand harvested into small 15kg crates and mostly destemmed into small batch fermenters, with a small quantity of whole bunches placed in the bottom of each fermenter. The grapes were gently plunged by hand or feet, up to twice a day, for a long extraction over three to four weeks. This Syrah was pressed into new (40%) French oak barriques (228L) and Puncheons (500L) and left in barrel to mature for 18 months.  A small dose of sulfur was added at blending, prior to bottling. No Added yeast, no enzymes, no fining, no filtration.

Tasting note: Abundant aromas of dark cherries, blueberries, plums, violets and allspice with musky rose hints if black pepper dark chocolate and fine oak toast. Medium-bodied but full flavoured. Present, yet approachable silky tannins, fabulous length and potential to age well into the next decade.

Closure: High quality composite cork that is cork-taint free guaranteed.

ABV: 13.6%

Label Design: Ngeringa bases its branding and imagery on its relationship with the land: The logo makes the shape of Mount Barker Summit and the icon, in a circle, makes reference to the full moon and to the biodynamic practice of working with the rhythms of nature. The sheoak sits inside the circle, reflecting the name, Ngeringa, the place of sheoak. Each bottle is individually numbered.

Production size: 186 dozen