This wine, to state the obvious, has been quite a while coming! In 2014 we began making experimental ferments using four clones from this exciting vineyard and decided to mature the blended bottled wines until we felt they were settled and singing. The 2016 Col Mountain is based on the smooth and aromatic Shiraz clones PT23 and 1654 with a little of the robust and rich Yalumba and R6WV28. The Col Mountain wines, from deep red soil with a significant amount of shattered rock, are earthier and more structured than our traditional more northern source of Shiraz, Colbinabbin Estate, which has previously made up all, and now roughly 60%, of the Pyrette label. This flamboyant wine is deep and rich, spicy and earthy with black cherry and blackberry aromas. It is mouth filling and builds power through the mid and back palate. It is not heavy, but rather bright and vigorous, chewy and long. It is beginning to drink very well now and will cellar positively for another decade at least.
Michael Dhillon