After a long break with no travel, we are hot on the heels of a visit to South Australia, what fun! An absolute highlight was spending time with Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries on their serene property, tucked away in the Piccadilly Valley. Their certified organic Arranmore Vineyard, is almost other-worldly, with 150 year old trees lining the driveway, old fruit trees with chickens scratching around their pint-sized winery and cellar door. Strolling around the vineyard it was a joy to hear their musings on organic viticulture, their love Gruner Veltliner & Mencia along with their plans for a new winery on the property.
We are thrilled to offer a new suite of wines from Candice and Frewin. All wines are small block, single vineyard wines and as such are very limited.
CRFT 2021 Chardonnay – The Blefari Vineyard LUC $28.50 (5 dozen Available)
Harvested 24th March 2021. Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Wild fermentation began in tank on full solids, then transferred to oak for barrel fermentation. Matured for 7 months in 100% French oak, 30% new oak. Occasional lees stirring. Full wild malo-lactic fermentation. 100% natural acidity. Alcohol 13% alc/vol, Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L Bottled 4th November 2021. Vegan friendly. The Vineyard The Blefari Vineyard is owned and farmed the our neighbours, Vince and Connie Blefari at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills). The Blefari vineyard is situated directly across the road from our estate-owned vineyard ‘Arranmore’. It sits on the west facing slope of the Rangeview Drive ridge, with Arranmore sitting on the east facing side. 545 meters above sea level and west facing west. Pure white nectarine fruit and cleansing acidity that just zips along
CRFT 2021 Chardonnay – The Arranmore Vineyard LUC $28.50 (10 dozen Available)
100% NASAA Certified Organic Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay. Harvested 24th March 2021. Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. Wild fermentation began in tank on full solids, then transferred to oak for barrel fermentation. Matured for 7 months in 100% French oak with 30% new oak. Occasional lees stirring. Full wild malo-lactic fermentation. 100% natural acidity. Alcohol – 13% alc/vol, Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L Bottled 4th November 2021. Vegan friendly. Estate-owned, managed and farmed, the 5-acre Arranmore Vineyard planted from 1995-1998, is situated at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills).
From 8 rows on the home block. Piccadilly Valley, 610 meters, North-East facing, clay, schist, gneiss. Showing more depth of fruit and purity, with exotic spice aromatics and Macadamia nut complexity.
CRFT 2021 White Pinot – The Arranmore Vineyard LUC $25.50 (5 dozen Available)
100% NASAA Certified Organic Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir. Harvested 30th March 2021. Hand-picked then whole bunch pressed. Wild fermentation began in tank on full solids and was then transferred to oak for barrel fermentation. Matured for 7 months in older neutral French oak. Occasional lees stirring. Full wild malo-lactic fermentation. 100% natural acidity. Alcohol – 13.5% alc/vol. Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L Bottled 4th November 2021. Vegan friendly. Extremely limited quantity available Estate-owned, managed and farmed, the 5-acre Arranmore Vineyard planted from 1995-1998, is situated at Carey Gully in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills). The 2021 vintage Pinot Noir was dry grown. Showing a slightly copper hue with rosewater aromatics and rich quince fruit flavours. Super textural with loads of complexity.
CRFT 2021 Mencia – The Schmidt Vineyard – Barossa Valley LUC $21 (10 dozen Available)
– Organically farmed (uncertified) in Vine Vale since 2012 on deep sand over red clay. Hand-picked. Wild fermented in an open-top tank, gentle hand plunge only, then pressed to barrel for wild malolactic fermentation and maturation. Occasional bottonage. Matured for 10 months in 100% French oak, 25% 1yo old, 75% older oak. Alcohol- 13.5% alc/vol, Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L Bottled 24th January 2021, Vegan friendly. The Vineyard Elaine Schmidt owns and farms the Mencía vines. Showing tea leaves, beetroot, rhubard and mulberries. Medium bodied, plush
CRFT 2021 Shiraz – The Rohrlach Vineyard 2020 – Barossa Valley LUC $25.50 (10 dozen Available)
– From the Southern end of Barossa new the border with the Adelaide Hills. Grown on rich red clay with Mica. Hand-picked. The grapes were destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation with a gentle hand plunge two to three times daily during active fermentation. Towards the end of primary fermentation, the wine was pressed to oak for barrel fermentation. 10 months in oak with wild malolactic fermentation followed by maturation. 100% French oak, 20% new, 20% 1 year old, 60% older oak. Alcohol- 14.0% alc/vol, Sugar/GF – Dry/<0.1g/L Bottled 24th January 2022. Lifted and aromatic with red fruits,
violets and liquorice. The palate is medium bodied with black pepper, warm spice and silky tannings.