The 2019 BLT is a product of the vintage. Notes of pearskin, nashi,
spice and floral aromatics with mineral and oyster shell
complexity. Bright tight and fresh on the palate showing creamy
almondine weight as well as beurre bosc pear and a tight lingering
lime juice acidity. Perfect as a breakfast wine with dim sum.
The Bizarre Love Triangle is an idea, a blend based on the Gentil
aromatic blends of Alsace in France, where it is allowed to blend
only Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. These are aromatic
spicy delicious wines with slippery and slatey textures, great
chilled for warm weather and approachable as young wines.
We have sourced our components from the Frankland River region in
the Great Southern, the more northern aspect and continentality
being perfect for these Alsatian varieties. Pinot Gris has a great
texture with pearskin and slate fruit flavours. The Gewurztraminer
is more aromatic, showing spice and florals with a talc texture.
Riesling hold the components together with a fine thread of citrus
and acidity.
All components were pressed individually and pressings fractions
separated. We barrel fermented all pressings fractions as well as
the Pinot Gris free run in old 500L puncheons to add texture and
volume. The free run components were fermented in tank. After 5
months on lees in both tank and barrel, the various components
were reassembled, given a good talking too and sent on their way
to bottle.
The 2019 growing season was cool and wet with frost severely
compromising many crop levels in the Frankland sub region as well
as many others in the Southwest of WA. Summer remained cool which
maintained fruit lift and natural acidity. The low crop levels
however saved the vintage and added extra fruit concentration.
In the mid 1980’s a small block of Riesling vines was planted on a north facing slope of a valley intensely protected by natural bush on both the Southern and Western sides. The gentle maritime climate provides excellent growing conditions for this delicate variety and the site is perfectly protected from late spring storms and strong winds which can upset flowering and fruit set. Cane pruned and arched to force even bud burst, all fruit is handpicked and hand pruned. Composted mulch has been spread throughout the vineyard since 2007 producing exceptional health and balance.