Massena The Moonlight Run Barrosa GMS 2020

Description

Established in 2000, Massena was begun by Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins who until 2006 were employed full time at other Barossa wineries (Dan as winemaker at Torbreck and Jaysen as general manager at Turket Flat). All Massena wines are from 100% Eden Valley and Barossa valley fruit from dry-farmed, low yielding vines up to 155 years age located in the north-western Barossa. Working mostly with traditional Barossa varieties, they have also established experimental vineyards of other varieties like Roussanne, Viognier, Barbera, Primitivo, Dolcetto, Tinta Amarela, Graciano, Saperavi and Tannat.

Wines are made using traditional techniques such as open fermentation and basket pressing and are aged in tank or seasoned French oak; no American oak is used here for maturation. All varieties are hand harvested and fermented using indigenous yeasts and wines from each vineyard are raised and kept separate until final blending. These are wines of striking purity and natural intensity that reflect their origins and which offer outstanding value.

From the winemakers: “The Moonlight Run was our midnight drive back to the Barossa after working vintage in the Clare Valley in 1999. We would crave a soft slurpy wine to wash down a hard night’s work, so we decided to make our own. We take inspiration from Southern Rhone wines and this is our take on them.

“Fruit is from Southern Moppa, Light Pass, Greenock, Angaston Foothills, Tanunda. Mataro from dry grown vines on the rose quartz soils of our Dadd’s Block is fermented with 30% whole cluster inclusion and blended with other parcels of Mataro from Light Pass and Greenock. We then add some old bush vine Grenache from the Barossa foothills where the sandy soils are shallow on calcrete and limestone. This complex Grenache fruit adds spiciness and intensity. Add to that some Greenock and Tanunda Shiraz and we have a wine that has a mouthful of everything superb about a Southern Rhone styled blend. Daily pump overs early in ferment, followed by punching down as the ferment finished, ensure gentle and controlled extraction. Aged in tank and barrel, each parcel is selected to add as much interest as possible.”

A blend of Grenache 36%, Mataro 34% and Shiraz 30% create this delicious elegant little beauty that certainly over delivers.

93 Points & Special Value Star; David Brookes, James Halliday Wine Companion :”60/25/15% grenache/mataro/shiraz, 30% whole bunches, aged in seasoned puncheons for 15 months before bottling without fining or filtration. The Moonlight Run has always been great value, medium bodied and packed with earthy, gingery spice notes. A light floral flourish and dark chocolatey tannins gently provide support, floral-flecked plums and berries powering through on the spicy finish. Drink to: 2030; Price: $35.00; Date Tasted: Feb 2022; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating:

RRP $34   Our Special Price $24.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine