TOP 100: Sydney International Wine Competition Blue Gold: Sydney International Wine Competition A Blue Gold award is a high honour for wines that are technically excellent and also paid well with food. This is a top tier award given to the top 10% of all entries, and a selection of these are then further judged to become part of the Top 100 Wines. VINEYARDS Produced with fruit from Frankland River, the coolest and most isolated wine-growing region in Western Australia. Gravel loamy soils of moderate fertility are ideal for growing grapes. An ideal climate of warm days and cool nights provide a long, slow ripening period. SEASON Favourable conditions in the lead up to vintage with good rainfall which continued into spring. Conditions warmed up throughout December, though remained fairly mild with cooling breezes promoting slow and steady flavour development. A great vintage producing high quality wines with wonderful balance and purity. Harvest Date Bottling Date March/April 2011 September 2012 WINEMAKING Picked during the cool of the night, the grapes were crushed and destemmed into static fermenters. Techniques for pumping the juice through the skins, and getting air into the ferments under relatively cool temperatures, were used to extract as much colour and flavour as possible. Once primary ferment was complete, the wine was pressed from the skins and then sent to a selection of French hogshead and barrique barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. Matured in oak for 12 months before being carefully blended prior to bottling. Closure Cellaring Screwcap 20 years+
