
Margan 2022 Tempranillo Graciano Shiraz
Inspired by some great Spanish wines and their versatility with food, Margan Estate growers pioneered the inter-planting (field blend) of these 3 varieties together here in the Hunter Valley in 2010. Picked at the same time and vinified together as a single wine we find the Tempranillo provides the rich fruit, Graciano gives lifted floral notes and acidity and the Shiraz provides the tannin and extra structure.
The grapes are from the Timbervines Vineyard planted on red volcanic soils, and cover a tiny 2 hectares. The three varieties are inter planted as a Field Blend. The challenge when making wine from a field blend is that the different varieties ripen at different stages so the art of making good wine involves balancing these ripeness’s. The unpredictability of this and the conditions of the vintage and terroir will dictate the style of the wine each year.
All three varieties were harvested and fermented together under cool conditions using cultured aromatic yeast. After fermentation the wine was placed in a mixture of new and used French and American oak barriques and puncheons where it matured for 12 months prior to bottling.
This is perfectly balanced, medium bodied wine with bright plush fruit, silky tannins and well-defined acidity which gives a long, refreshing finish. The nose has violets and black fruits and the palate has loads of forest berries, a touch of dark chocolate, soft tannins and refreshing acidity.