2024 'Albert's' Vermentino

Back in 2009 Anthony Koerner was researching Mediterranean grape varieties that could potentially grow well in the Clare Valley climate, he concluded that Vermentino was the one he was going to plant. Vermentino has proven to grow very well in Clare, it is resilient, doesn’t need much water, it crops well, all while producing incredible layers of flavour. Anthony’s nick name is Albert and this is where the name of this wine comes from.

Picked on the 22nd of Feb, we saw perfect ripening conditions through December and January with the temperature sitting in the high 20’s and low 30’s resulting in a fleshier style of Vermentino compared to the 2023 vintage. The wine also had lots of Malo, which has built nice complexity and texture.

On the nose you get scents of banana blossom, grapefruit, with savoury notes and subtle white spice, very appealing. This wine offers incredible texture, it’s silky smooth with a plushness but held together with the underlining Watervale acid structure which keeps it lifted. As expected, there is a beautiful salinity, sea spray character to the wine, which is a characteristic of Vermentino. The minerality from the limestone soils is a show case, balanced out with fresh lemon curd, white peach and nashi pear.

Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 2009
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 22, 2024
Picking method: Machine Harvested
Time on skins: No
Processing: Crush and destemmed
Pressing: Only take free run juice
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: French Oak for 3 weeks, Full Malo
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 9 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 11.5% (STD DRNKS – 7)
Vegan Friendly: Yes

94 Points - Katrina Butler (James Halliday)

"Halliday editor Anna Webster and I believe it's the year of the salty white. Vermentino in this country keeps getting better, and this, too, is a welcome addition to the saline scene.