Description
Sons of Eden co-owners, Corey Ryan (“cut his teeth” as winemaker at Henschke for 10 yrs) winemaker and Simon Cowham (ex-viticulturist Yalumba) have come up trumps again with this impressive new release.
The timing of the first full moon in the Barossa Valley each harvest typically lines up with the Tempranillo harvest of the Light Pass Vineyard. This harvest moon wine Sons of Eden’s offering to Selene, the Greek Goddess of the moon, the celestial-body beauty that resembles fertility and productivity.
The Tempranillo is grown in the Light Pass sub-region of the Barossa Valley, which is classic red soil over limestone, and sits high on the eastern edge of the Valley. Likely, the oldest planting of Tempranillo in the region, planted in 1999 and is managed with low-input sustainable viticultural practices. The fruit was handpicked, destemmed and fermented in a mix of small fermenters, both stainless steel and oak. Extended skin contact pre and post fermentation together with daily hand plunging was utilised to assist in retaining fruit character and building tannin structure. The ferments were pressed to a mix of new and seasoned 500 litres French oak vessels. Matured undisturbed for 30 months, then naturally clarified and bottled with minimal filtration.
Deep ruby red colour with intense dark cherry and plum aromatics that are complemented with complex dried herb and spice aromatics. On the palate a fleshy black-fruit core is surrounded by a layered line of textural savoury tannins. Drink till 2025. 14.5% alc. Limited stock.
18.5+/20, Raymond Chan Jun 2018 “Dark, deep, near impenetrable black-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is full, blossoming with an aromatic array of ripe dark-red and black berried fruits along with notes of pepper and spices, along with floral elements, revealing a little oak cedar and hints of eucalyptus. The aromatics feature wonderfully. Full-bodied, the palate is rich and powerful with sweetly ripe fruit flavours of dark-red and black berried fruits along with pepper and spices, with lifted florals. The flavours blossom and fill the palate, and are supported by grainy tannin extraction and grip. The fruit has plenty of power and underlying drive, and the wine carries to a full, accessible, sweet-fruited finish. This is a rich and powerful Tempranillo with blossoming flavours of dark-red and black fruits with pepper, spices and florals on a mouthfilling palate showing good accessibility. Match with Middle Eastern fare over the next 7-9+ years. Named after the Greek goddess of the moon. 100% Tempranillo from Light Pass, vines planted 1999, hand-picked, destemmed and fermeted to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 30 months in 300 L oak casks. 280 dozen made.”
94 points James Halliday Australian Wine Companion “Most likely the oldest planting of tempranillo in the region, planted in ’99, hand-picked, destemmed, a mix of small fermenters, hand-plunging, extended skin contact pre and post fermentation, matured for 30 months in French puncheons. A very different evocation of tempranillo, with dark cherry and bramble fruit, and a web of tannins running through the palate from start to finish. Rioja would recognise it (and keep it in barrel for 3-4 years, fining it twice a year), but here patience is the only panacea.”
RRP $49
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