2024 Vanguardist Roussanne

(LIMITED TO 2 BOTTLES MAX PER ORDER)

ROUSSANNE FRUIT SOURCED FROM BLEWITT SPRINGS, MCLAREN VALE

The Vanguardist range represents the epitome of what we are about. Pushing the realms of standard winemaking to deliver intrigue, excitement and utmost quality...without any loss of sense of place. Ultimate dedication to the craft of viticulture and winemaking, encapsulated in a bottle – through our lens.

PHILOSOPHY
At the core of our philosophy is a belief in the potential of Rhône varieties in South Australia. This focus is an essential part of our plan and is guiding our journey. This wine marks our first iteration of Roussanne, grown just a stone’s throw from the Vanguardist Rende site.

HARVEST & VINTAGE
Handpicked on March 16, the moderate temperatures and timely rainfall throughout the growing season played a pivotal role in shaping the character of this wine. An extended ripening period enhanced the tension and powerful mineral-driven fruit.

WINEMAKING
The fruit was foot crushed immediately and then gently basket pressed, allowing for delicate extraction over 12 hours. The juice was fermented with high solids in a 900L egg. The wine was further aged in a seasoned French oak demi-muid where it finished malolatic fermentation. The wine was racked to a stainless steel tank one month prior to bottling. True to our commitment in preserving the expression of the variety and unique terroir of Blewitt Springs, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration in November 2024.

PROFILE
This Roussanne offers a balance of richness and freshness:
Aroma: Preserved lemon, light honeycomb notes, and sugared almonds.
Palate: Slippery and unctuous with freshness that drives energy into the wine. The palate also reveals hints of shortbread, sourdough-like savoriness, and biscuity complexity.
Finish: A long, generous finish with excellent extension of flavor, offering a sense of depth and drive.

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Closure: AMORIM XPUR 49x24mm
FSO2: at bottling 25ppm
TSO2:68ppm
pH: 3.5
TA: 4.9g/L
Malic acid: 0
Alcohol: 14.2%

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REVIEW
This saw 12 hours on skins, then was fermented in a 900L ceramic egg, before maturation in older oak. It's a textural affair, a wine of saline-tinged pithy grip, billowing lees, swirling slipperiness and taut refreshment. Preserved lemon, golden and dried apple, green almond, bronze fennel, cypress and mint, with hints of oatcake and gingerbread, it’s fruitful but savoury, in the house style. It’s also a fine new addition to the line-up.

95 POINTS
MARCUS ELLIS
HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION