The grapes come in gradually over a five week period, and are sourced from both our own vineyards and selected growers. The first Shiraz came in from our Stephanie vineyard on 22nd March. This was followed by Shiraz grapes from local growers, the Hearndens, who delivered the freshly picked grapes on the 26th March. To this we added Shiraz picked from the esteemed Hanisch vineyard on the 31st March; Shiraz from our Heysen vineyard came in on the 2nd of April; and then the wonderful and very slow ripening Shiraz from Kalleske’s Greenock vineyards arrived on the 15th April. Grenache is a late-ripening variety and we took delivery from Kalleske on the 16th April. The Sheer family Grenache arrived on the 25th; and from our Western Ridge vineyard at Gomersal, fruit came in on the 28th of April. The various batches of grapes are kept separate during crushing, fermentation and barrel-ageing, and then blended to taste for bottling. The blend ratio is 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache; a combination that has consistently worked well in our years of experience with this particular fruit. To retain the luscious and rich fruit flavours, we use mostly older shaven oak, with about 10% newer oak. The true key to the wine is the Grenache. In the years Shiraz is strong and bold, the Grenache is somewhat subdued but in others, the Grenache leaps out with spice cherries and strong tannins.