Mitolo Angela Shiraz 2013 (6 x 750mL) McLaren Vale, SA

STYLE

Angela is a slightly different expression of Shiraz which is sourced from Sandra’s block, located about 5km south of the Chinese Block we use for our G.A.M. Shiraz. We have always used grapes from Sandra’s block as a blending component in our Jester Shiraz but as this vineyard has matured, it has shown its potential to stand alone as a single vineyard wine. I have always loved the slightly brighter fruit profile and complete structure that we get from Sandra’s block. It has the ideal power and weight to sit between our Jester Shiraz and premium G.A.M. Shiraz. Angela is lifted with pure, ripe berry flavours at the forefront and subtle oak, allowing the fruit flavours to shine.

VINEYARD

We source the Shiraz fruit for this wine from Sandra’s block, located at the southern end of McLaren Vale near

the seaside town of Willunga. The soil and geology of this block differ slightly to Chinese Block, with less black Biscay clay and more alluvial Christies Beach formation. This soil type contains rocky fragments that have been sheared off the nearby hills and deposited in this soil millions of years ago. It is free draining, resulting in less vigour over spring and more content vines in the ripening period. This leads to a bright and uplifted wine style whilst retaining signature Mitolo Shiraz softness.

VINIFICATION

The 2013 vintage in McLaren Vale was a good one with excellent winter rains and mild, dry conditions ideal

for grape ripening. Shiraz for Angela is destemmed and crushed gently then pumped over once daily for around

ten days. The ferment was kept cool throughout in an attempt to extract the tannin, colour and flavour very

softly and to hold onto the pure fruit characters that are a signature for Mitolo. The wine was kept in a combination of new (~10%) and one and two year old barrels, mainly of French origin, for 18 months before being blended. The final blend is clarified by racking only, and bottled without fining or filtration.