Small Batch Fiano 2023

Due to limited production this wine is reserved for Solstice Club Members.

Winemaker: Erinn Klein

Grape(s): Fiano

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

Site(s): Ngeringa Summit

Vintage notes: The growing season leading into the vintage of 2023 was by all accounts our wettest and cooler in at least a decade. We managed to just stay on top of our disease pressure during the spring of 2022 and then benefited the rewards with near zero pressure close to harvest. A long, slow much later than normal harvest meant amazing flavour development, great acid retention in the grape across all varieties. Even our late Italian varieties we finally managed to get ripe.

Vineyard notes: From our east-facing Summit Vineyard, collecting more of the morning sunlight and less of the intense afternoon heat. The altitude ranges between 330m and 368m above sea level. The soil consists of sandy loam over red-orange clay, sandstone and ironstone. The Fiano was planted in 2018. In 2023 we harvested just enough grapes from our two rows of Fiano to make exactly one barrel of wine.

Winemaking: The Fiano was gently hand harvested into 15kg picking bins, de-stemmed and gently crushed by foot and left to steep overnight, then whole bunch pressed, with minimal settling into an old French oak barrique (228L). Fermentation began spontaneously with wild yeast from our vineyard and winery. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally. The wine matured on full lees for ten months with no battonage. A small dose of sulphur is added at blending just prior to bottling. No enzymes, no fining.

Closure: Stelvin screw cap

ABV: 13.5%

Tasting notes: Aromas of ripe pear, honey dew melon, hints of paw-paw and guava. On the pallet there are flavours of melon, honey and roasted cashew nuts, with good pallet weight and fine chalky tannins.

Production size: 24 dozen