Massena Eleventh Hour

WHY WE LOVE IT

This wine comes from the sixty-year-old Shiraz vines from Greenock that were about to be uprooted. They were saved in the eleventh hour.
Shiraz for The Eleventh Hour is sourced from vineyards located in the Greenock, Stonewell and Vine Vale sub regions of the Barossa.
The red clay belt of the Western Ridge running down to Greenock creates an ideal environment to grow Shiraz. Stonewell’s hard red-brown soils adds another layer of complexity to the fruit, while the open soils of Vine Vale give aromatic intensity.

Varietal Composition: 100% Shiraz

Elaboration: Hand harvesting allows some whole bunch inclusion and the vineyard’s indigenous yeast is used in all ferments. Open top fermentation, gentle extraction and basket pressing followed by ageing on lees in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Extended time on skins post ferment is used to build tannin structure and a savory profile. Massena wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered and have minimal sulphur added. // Destemming without crushing, we ferment each parcel in separate batches in open fermenters before basket pressing. Aged in seasoned oak, the wine was moved to tank in individual components for several months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration.

Tasting Notes: Fresh cherry and blackberry notes give way to blue fruits, supported by aromas of wild fennel, black pepper, aniseed and hints of clove and nutmeg. The opulent palate is full of blueberries, dark chocolate with typical Barossa plummy fruit sweetness.

PRESS

2015 – 91 Vinous
2016 – 93 Wine Advocate

PRODUCER BACKGROUND

Massena is An Australian wine collective established in 1999 by Jaysen Collins and Dan Standish. Their goal then and now is to make wines of character and balance that reflect the enjoyment of winemaking with minimal intervention.

Located in the famed Barossa Valley wine region of South Australia, they seek out the finest fruit from grape growers who share their vision. They source traditional Barossa varieties of Shiraz, Grenache, and Mataro from dedicated growers in the deep red soils of the North Western edge of the Barossa. These include the sub-regions of Greenock, Stonewell, and Moppa. These rare vineyards feature dry-farmed, low-yielding vines up to 150 years old.

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PRINT RATED (2015-90 Vinous) SHELF TALKER