Small Batch Aglianico 2023

Winemaker: Erinn Klein

Grape(s): Aglianico

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

Site(s): Ngeringa Rufus Vineyard

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 from 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: Our Aglianico grapes are grown on a steep westerly facing slope of the Rufus Vineyard at about 360m above sea level, on rocky red ironstone and schist over clay. Quite a challenging vineyard site – facing west, it receives the intense summer afternoon sun and often is exposed to characteristic winds of the Adelaide Hills. From the top of this vineyard in the distance, however, one can see Lake Alexandrina and the mouth of the Murray River, consequently receiving cooling evening breezes, which do much to preserve fruit acids and flavours through the critical weeks of ripening. Only 500 vines planted.

Winemaking: All grapes were de-stemmed, wild yeast fermented, gently extracted by daily hand plunging for two weeks. Then 11 months maturation in one older French oak barrique.

No fining. Estate bottled with small amounts of sulphites added before bottling.

Tasting note: On the nose, this Aglianico opens with dark blue fruit and ripe raspberry, layered with subtle hints of blueberry, musk and black pepper. Aromas of vanilla and almond mingle with more earthy, mineral tones—wet soil, forest floor, and a touch of tar and bitumen — adding richness, depth and intrigue. The palate mirrors the nose with a plush, velvety texture. Fruit-driven flavours of dark berries are supported by underlying earthy and herbal notes, creating a layered experience that balances richness and restraint. A gentle spice and a whisper of green forest nuances linger on the finish.

Closure: Stelvin Screw Cap

ABV: 12.0%

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.