Single Vineyard Iluma Viognier 2022

Winemaker: Erinn Klein

Grape(s): Viognier

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

Site(s): Iluma Vineyard

Vintage notes:  Vintage 2022 was set up by a milder spring and summer with no severe heat spikes or extended hotter periods. Spring and early summer were wetter than usual resulting it good soil moisture and thus requiring only minimal irrigation just before picking. Flowering and set were good, if we don’t compare them to the dream conditions we had for the 2021 vintage! We had a few disease challenges with warm, wet weather, particularly one event where the vines had wet leaves for three days around the 10th of January. Our vine health was good and therefore resilient to these challenging few days. Finally, a long and slow ripening with cool conditions over harvest produced great delicate wines across all varieties.

Vineyard notes: On the northern slope of the Mount Barker Summit, at an altitude of 420m, is the Iluma Vineyard, home of our 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: This wine was made in two components; half was fermented on skins for 5 days and the other half was whole bunch pressed without skin contact. Both 100% malolactic fermentation matured in partial new barriques and older oak. We bottled this Viognier quite early to retain the fresh vibrancy of the fruit with a good amount of dissolved CO2. A small dose of sulfur was added at blending, prior to bottling. No Added yeast, no enzymes, no fining, no filtration.

Tasting note: A wine with classic primary Viognier characters of white flesh stone fruit, ginger spice, white pepper and delicate lavender floral notes. Round, viscous and sensual on the pallet but pulled in tight with a presence of acidity and textural tannin. Upon first opening there is quite a bit of Spritz from the dissolved CO2. We recommend opening a few hours before drinking and possibly even a decanting.

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

ABV: 12.9%

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: 43 dozen made.