Levantine Hill Estate

Yarra Valley Ornelias 2023

The fruit was meticulously hand-picked, hand-sorted, and destemmed before being gently crushed and transferred directly into small open fermenters. A carefully selected portion of the Cabernet Sauvignon was co-fermented with Sangiovese in a custom 750kg Italian-made oak open vat.
The fermentations were managed with a light touch to ensure a gentle extraction of colour and tannins, with temperatures allowed to peak at 32°C. The co-fermented batch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese was then capped and left on skins at approximately 28°C for three weeks, enhancing tannin extraction and polymerization.
Crafted as a tribute to the pioneering 'Super Tuscan' Vino da Tavola blends of Tuscany, particularly inspired by Marchesi Antinori’s ‘Solaia’ from their Tenuta Tignanello estate and the Bolgheri region in western central Italy. This blend marries the intensely-fruited traditional Bordelaise grape variety with the earthy complexity of Sangiovese, drawing on the strengths of each to create a wine of noble rusticity that takes a slightly unconventional path. The aroma is anchored by a rare and captivating earthiness, complemented by a medley of red and black wild fruits, currants, plums, and sarsaparilla, all interwoven with savory hints of nutmeg, olive tapenade, maquis, and charred capretto, topped with a leafy note. The palate is dense yet elegant, bursting with juicy flavours of mulberry, blood orange, Amaretto, Szechuan pepper, black tea, and cocoa powder. The rich and expressive palate resonates with dark fruits, a delicate acid line, and a slow-building structure of graphitic tannins, finishing with a subtle Cynar-like bitterness.
This wine is vegan-friendly.