2017 marks our third vintage of Shiraz from the Hilltops region. We have the pleasure of working with two wonderful growers, who operate some of the very best vineyard sites in the area. Shiraz from Brian Freeman’s vineyards (Home and Back blocks) makes its way into our Hilltops Shiraz No.1 release, while Jason Brown’s Moppity Vineyard is the source of our fruit for the Hilltops Shiraz No.2. We try to approach the production of the two wines in a similar fashion, to better highlight the differences between the two vineyards. Warm fermentations followed short cold soak periods, after which maturation took place over 12 months in French oak puncheons – approx. 25% new oak. I aim to produce two clean, yet complex, styles of Hilltops Shiraz; honest expressions of where they are grown. I am always enamoured with how Shiraz from this region offers such generosity and intensity, whilst still retaining a medium bodied framework, and trademark cool-climate elegance.