Red 2005
3 Amigos Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2005
Vineyards
The red amigos are sourced separately from three of the McHenry Hohnen vineyards - shiraz from Rocky Road, grenache from McLeod Creek and mataro from McHenry's.
Rocky Road and McLeod Creek lie in the southern subregion of Margaret River near Witchcliffe McHenry's sits comfortably on the unofficial border between north and south, overlooking the Margaret River. The three sites share similar soils, being tough laterite gravels derived from granite. These free draining, moderately fertile soils restrain the growth habit of these normally vigorous varieties and promote concentration of flavour in small crops of fully ripe grapes.
All vines on the McHenry Hohnen vineyards are grown on a single bilateral cordon with a vertically trained canopy. It is a simple and practical format that maximises light penetration and maintains a balanced vine.
Vinification
Grapes are fermented in small, open vats allowing precise judgements as fermentation proceeds and colour, flavour and tannins are extracted from the skins. Towards the completion of the primary fermentation the skins are pressed and the wine run to barrel for finishing and maturation. The blend is assembled in late summer, prior to bottling ahead of the next vintage.
Tasting Notes by Ray Jordan
Three varieties all working together prove very much, that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. There is an earthy, rustic feel about this wine from the first sniff of its deep aromas to the final impression as the last taste of the generous flavours leaves the mouth. The savouriness of the shiraz, the sweet raspberry floral characters of the grenache and the deep earthiness of the mataro are brought together perfectly. A lovely dry mouth feel, with a little fine tannin and crisp acid, sustains a long palate.
Excellent drinking in the short term.
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