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.
Grenache 34%, Mataro 33%, Shiraz 33% from Seppeltsffield, Southern Moppa, Greenock and Tanunda. Old bush vine Grenache from the Western ridge, where the clay soils are dense and iron rich is fermented with 50% whole bunches include. This complex Grenache fruit adds dark cherry fruit, spiciness and intensity as the building block of this blend. Mataro from dry grown vines on the rose quartz soils of Moppa is fermented with 30% whole cluster inclusion as the tannin backbone of this wine. Natural yeast fermented in open top stainless steel fermenters. 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 seasoned French Oak Puncheons for 15 months, each parcel is selected to add as much interest as possible.
Deep red and purple in colour with raspberry and dark cherry on the palate supported by firm tannins from whole bunch inclusion. Aromatics of dark red fruits with green peppercorn and Chinese five spice ensure a complex blend that is best with rich, slow cooked braises.
New release .. review for 2020 … 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 $27.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
