Description
Mount Horrocks Wines is operated by proprietor/winemaker Stephanie Toole, who restricts production to approximately 3,500 cases per annum in order to achieve her aims of quality and single vineyard expression. All three estate-owned Clare Valley vineyards, totalling ten hectares, are ‘A certified’ by Australian Certified Organic (ACO). James Halliday says “Stephanie Toole has never deviated from the pursuit of excellence in the vineyard and winery. She has three vineyard sites in the Clare Valley, each managed using natural farming and organic practices. The attention to detail and refusal to cut corners is obvious in all her wines. 5 Red Star Winery”
Stephanie carefully crafts “essentially hand-made food wines with emphasis on structure as well as generous fruit flavours”. Only estate grown grapes are used and these are hand-picked and gently handled under conditions that ensure the varietal and site-specific flavours in the resultant wine, as well as its organic status, are retained. As no finings have been found necessary the wines are all suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Only the finest French oak barriques are used for those wines spending time in barrel.
Inspired by the wines of Sicily, Stephanie planted Mount Horrocks’ Nero d’Avola vineyard in 2007. The grapes are harvested by hand, then cold-soaked prior to a nine day ferment. Daily plunging ensures ideal extraction until the wine is racked to French oak barriques (20% new) for twelve months maturation prior to bottling. Less new oak is used to maintain its juicy palate.
Stephanie’s love affair with this Sicilian grape began when she first tasted nero d’avola wines in 2003 in Italy. Bright plum-purple with a veritable cornucopia of red fruits and spice on the nose. Medium-bodied, yet generously flavoured, this delicious Sicilian variety has found an ideal home at Mount Horrocks. Ripe cherry and raspberry fruit combine with savoury-edged spice and gentle tannins.
Drinking beautifully upon release it will also age for 10 years.
94 Points, Tyson Stelzer – WBM Magazine “Stephanie Toole’s cool, high site in Watervale produces a beautiful expression of Nero, with a gorgeous core of black cherry and black berry fruits with a violet lift. The vibrant acidity of the cool 2022 harvest sets off soft, supple, impeccably fine tannins.
Gorgeous drinking from the outset. Best yet.”
94 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion “A very good nero d’Avola expression with classic cherry fruit set amongst licorice, alpine herb and sweet turned earth characters in both the bouquet and palate. It sits around medium weight and feels well trimmed by the weave of al dente tannin, the finish a touch savoury with a rub of walnut nuttiness and some more alpine herb character. Nero can often be quite rambunctious; this feels distinctly elegant, but quintessential.”
92 Points, Huon Hooke – The Real Review “Ultra-bright, youthful purple-red colour with a bright aroma of red cherry to raspberry, fresh and fruit driven, the palate following on from there with medium to full body, supple fine grained tannins and sweet berry flavours swaddled in ample drying tannins at the finish, then a lingering follow-through. Good drinking now and will surely reward some cellaring.”
RRP $50 Our Special Price $38.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine – Limited stock
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