It is early March 2023, the vines leaves are still a lovely green but some are changing to their Autumnal reddish brown as to be expected. The Winter and Spring of 2022 brought good rainfall which filled the dams and saturated the ground. The grapes are around 75% coloured and harvest is only weeks away. We covered the vines with bird nets last week and have found that adding a net wall across the row end posts discourages the kangaroos. I’ve been watering as required but generally the summer has been short and mild with only a few hot days.
The 2017 Reserve Massif Shiraz sold out quickly and now the new vintage 2018 is ready and on the market. It’s a firm wine with 15.1% alcohol and has the mandatory pregancy warning on the back label. Those that remember the 2015 Massif this new wine is very similar.
The line up of Shiraz at cellar door in addition to Reserve Massif also include the Clayfield Moyston ‘Ton Up’ Shiraz 2017 and 2016 Clayfield Grampians ‘Black Label’ Shiraz, Clayfield Thomas Wills Shiraz 2017 and Clayfield Pallah 2015 which are all elegant wines. In addition there’s the 2012 Black Label Grampians Shiraz which has aged beautifully and is a stunner, available only at cellar door and on the website shop.
Visitors to our winery may remember the affectionate welcoming by Ernie (Jack Russell X), sadly Ernie passed away in May 2022 and has a lovely plot overlooking the vineyard. Ruby is our adorable Weimaraner, she is almost 10 years old, don’t be frightened as she talks loudly. If she comes to great you she loves a pat and sits on command easily.
Enjoy your visit to the Grampians we would surely welcome you to visit us and purchase our lovely Shiraz.
Cheers, Simon Clayfield