Overview
The McAskill range consists of small volumes of the highest quality wine sourced exclusively from the Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard located in the well known sub region of White Hut. Named in honour after John McAskill who donated the land next door to our vineyard in 1860 to be used as a cemetery for the Gaelic speaking Scottish pioneers of the Clare Valley.
Tasting Notes
Deep red in appearance with a fresh and youthful aroma. Red fruited – plums, cranberry, with underlying warm spices. Subtle oak maturation gives a wonderful textured and vibrant offering adding malt and spice complexity. Flavours linger in the mouth effortlessly, combined with a ripe but fine and long tannin profile bringing all the components together in complete harmony.
Vintage Notes
Growing Season
The vintage was shaped by a typically cool winter, but with below average rainfall. Spring rains were also down. Budburst and flowering were normal and harvest commenced in late February for us. While we experienced above average temperatures during January and much of February, conditions were quite mild once vintage began in earnest. The 2019 vintage will be remembered as another high-quality Clare Riesling vintage with lower alcohols and bright acids a feature of our wines.
Winemaking
The grapes for this wine were machine harvested, transported to the winery, destemmed into small open top fermenters, chilled and cold soaked for approx 72 hours prior to the natural yeasts kicking in and beginning the ferment. Fermentation was completed within 12 days prior to the wine being pressed and run into new and used French 225L barrels for just on 18 months.