Pirate is a field blend of 90% Merlot & 10% Semillon from Jeff Traeger’s organically farmed vineyard in Vine vale, on the eastern side of the Barossa. The Vines grow on deep sand over yellow clay, benefiting from a wide diurnal temperature shifts that promote phenolic ripeness. Jeff has been farming organically for more than 40 years without herbicides, pesticides, or other synthetic chemicals. Thanks to the dry, windy conditions of the site, sprays of organic sulfur & copper are rarely needed, as disease pressure remains low. Both varieties were hand-picked on the same day & whole bunches were tipped into a f ibreglass tank for one week of carbonic maceration. After this, the bunches were foot stomped to release juice onto the skins, extracting colour & aromatics over about 10 hours. The must was then pressed in a horizontal screw press & the wine returned to tank to complete fermentation. Elevage followed for six months in stainless steel. With 20% aged in barriques on fine lees. Bottled on site at our Basket Range winery.
