Hayes Family Wines - Vintage 2021 Diary - Week 2 - First Reds
Grape Sampling - Ebenezer Shiraz
Week 2
This week started with the picking of grapes destined for the 2021 Barossa Valley Rose and concluded with our first Shiraz for the year. Our Rose probably receives more attention then another wine we make (Andrew loves it). Must have a high proportion of mataro (the remainder being grenache), must be picked at the exact right point, and requires a lot of care and attention. The result is worth it, and this years Rose is off to a great start.
During the week we finalised setup of the winery, washed remaining fermenters and continued to sample grapes for the weeks ahead. I suspect that the Shiraz picking will start in earnest in the coming week. The Fromm Shiraz was ready to pick and we took that in, through the crusher and into the fermenter. Early days for the Fromm Shiraz, but the grapes look wonderful.
We also managed to have a re-taste of the 2020 vintage Shiraz based wines. This is a regular exercise for Andrew and I, just to see how the wines are progressing in barrel and to identify any standouts. And there are a few. The wines will undoubtedly be built for the long haul.
The Week ahead
The week ahead should start quietly, but I suspect by mid to late week the Shiraz harvest will be on. We will take samples again on Monday but tentatively have picking scheduled for Thursday and Friday and into the following week. By next weekend, Shiraz fermentations will be the dominant feature of our Mattiske Road Property. And we cannot wait!