TASTING NOTES
Creamy white to light yellow in colour. Fragrant bouquet with aromas of lychee, white peach, crushed stone, and jasmine, with hints of stewed apricots and cloves. Medium body with smooth, nutty mid-palate texture, supported with bright acidity and a touch of salinity even. Finishes clean with attractive aftertaste that lasts. A good companion to blue mussels in white broth, seafood risotto, or rainbow trout with polenta and butter & white wine reduction with sage.
ABOUT
A versatile variety that thrives in western part of Slovenia (Brda and Vipava Valley) and north-eastern Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) where it’s also known as Ribolla Gialla. It has been first mentioned in 13th century, praised by Boccaccio, and taxed the highest amongst all vineyards by Maria Theresa a few centuries later.
When first cuttings became available from Chalmers Nursery, I immediately started persuading one of the more curious grape growers in Adelaide Hills to help me find a spot for it. Timing was perfect. Chris Pinchbeck was about to re-plant a block of land on a cooler, east-facing slope of his Forreston property. I considered well-drained, loamy soils over the limestone with scattered ironstone as an ideal site. We quickly agreed to plant 300 vines in spring 2020, consequently establishing (to our best knowledge) the very first vineyard of Rebula in South Australia. We were eagerly awaiting first crop in a cool and long season of 2022/2023. What a joyful moment when you realise the fruit is of great quality, and decision, as wild as it may sounded 3 years ago, has proven itself to be the right one.
Hand-picked on a crisp morning of 10th of April with the help of our friends. 60% of the fruit was whole bunch pressed with juice fermented under temperature control in stainless steel tank, while 40% was fermented on skins, and pressed off in a small basket press after 2 months of maceration. Native yeast, full malolactic fermentation, 17 months of aging in used French oak barrels on fine lees, minimal sulphur dioxide addition.
Only 583 bottles produced.
Variety: Rebula
Region: Adelaide Hills
Vintage: 2023
Volume (ml): 750ml
Alcohol Vol. (%): 13%
Standard Drinks: 7.7
Closure: Amorim Qork Xpur