A hallmark of the Utopos Vineyard on Roennfeldt Road is the pitch perfect acid/ tannin balance we can achieve in fully ripened fruit. This provides for delicious, highly approachable wines in their youth, whilst enabling them to develop over a 10-15 year period, and maybe more. Following three particularly dry periods, the winter and spring leading into 2022 witnessed a welcome return to above average rainfall. Depleted sub surface moisture levels were replenished. A late October hailstorm passed to the South of the Utopos vineyard the vineyard. Further proof that this location seems blessed by higher powers than the vigneron! The vineyard produced a healthy canopy and set a good even crop. A dry and warm summer was capped by a large pre harvest rain event at the end of February providing a moment of relief for the vines before a drier than average autumn and harvest season. Overall the growing and harvest seasons experienced moderate weather conditions with no dramatic heat spikes. The crop ripened slowly and evenly, producing wines of structure and elegance with depth and length of flavour. In my view, perhaps the strongest vintage to date for Utopos.
Grenache and Mataro were harvested for the MSG on April 1 and cofermented with a 20% whole bunch inclusion with twice daily pumpovers. The fermentation was run warm with regular pump overs for 6 days before being pressed off to tank and barrel with a couple of baumé remaining. The wine was then matured in 20% new balance 3rd use tight grained med toast french hogsheads for almost 18 months. A blend of 53% Mataro, 27% Shiraz and 20% Grenache.
The Mataro grown at Utopos has quite a distinct expression. Being from a low yielding site, there is less dominant pretty lifted spice which has yielded to darker, more muscular characteristics on the nose and palate. The combination of the 3 varieties delivers an exceptionally true expression of the vineyard and the Utopos style. There are layers of black fruit and spice framed with graceful tannins without a hint of fruit sweetness. The Grenache aspects on the finish I’d best describe as wispy, rather than overtly juby or confectioned. This wine will age magnificently with the richer elements of Shiraz and Grenache receding after 10 years to reveal a truly intricate, complex wine. I love this stuff! Its easily my favourite wine to make.
