Ochota Barrels Texture Like Sun Red 2022, Adelaide Hills, Australia

2022 marks the second vintage of a new era at Ochota Barrels with Amber taking control in the vineyards and cellar following the tragic passing of her husband Taras. The name of the wine is taken from lyrics from the song ‘Golden Brown’ by The Stranglers as it was the song Taras and Amber danced to at their wedding. Keeping the song and eternal love going was never going to be in question and this blend of roughly 60% Adelaide Hills fruit with nearly 40% McLaren Vale fruit helps to accomplish that goal. Amber chose in 2022 to cut back on the number of varieties in this blend, showcasing Gamay and Grenache primarily, with a touch of texture from the Gewürtz and elegance from the Pinot Noir. The fruit was hand-picked with only the best fruit being used. The clusters were kept separate and cold soaked for a few days, then fermentation kicked off naturally in small, open-top fermenters. Toward the finale of primary fermentation, the Gewürztraminer skins were tossed into the Pinot Noir ferment. The fruit was hand plunged multiple times a day over the course of two weeks prior to being basket-pressed to old French barriques for aging. Amber made the barrel selections for the blend after two months of aging then blended the wines to tank to settle. It was bottled without fining and just a small 35ppm addition of sulfur and pad filtration.