Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2006

"Having worked with this block for a number of years (and seeing the wines develop in the bottle) we are improving our understanding of the terroir. With this has come an understanding of the grippy, bold tannins that characterise the wines. These create wines that reward time in the bottle." Anthony de Jager

IN THE VINEYARD
This dry farmed vineyard was planted in 1995, using Shiraz clone SH9A, grafted onto rootstock R110. The deep Glenrosa soil type retains soil moisture well and ripens the crop early, without stressing, during our long hot summers. Planted on a North-westerly facing rocky outcrop, the vines are pruned to a “bosstok” or bush vine. Depending on the growth, the vine is pruned to between 3 and 5 bearers per vine. Summer canopy management includes a topping, which will reduce wind damage, as well as green cropping at 80% veraison to ensure even ripening. The vineyard is regularly visited during the ripening period and tested by tasting, visual and analytical examination to determine the ideal picking date.

WINEMAKING
Grapes were harvested fully ripe at 25.9° balling. The fruit was brought to the cellar in small lug boxes, destalked and hand sorted over a sorting table. All raisins, under ripe berries and stalks were removed. The sorted berries were sent straight to 500 litre open French oak fermenters. Manual punch downs (pigeage) were performed three times per day. Post fermentation maceration lasted for six days. The grapes were basket pressed, and malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel. The wine was then racked, lightly sulphured and returned to 40% new French oak, with the remainder in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels. This vintage spent a total of 16 months in oak.