Dero Syrah 2023
2023 is made up of predominantly Ebenezer muscle with the structure and complexity of our Eden Valley sites. This release sees the dominant component being from Adrian Hoffmann's DV Wolf's Block & Sand Block. With a firm handshake from Mark Bartholomaeus's Gnarly & Mighty Eden Valley Vineyard planted in the late 1800's & Nathan Burley's ripper dry grown patch in Flaxman Valley.
And of course, the customary back vintage Barrique of Dero. The Barrique of 2022 looked real good! And played its part with dark broody intensity. This blend sees an average vine age of close to 80 years old to tell the story.
The fruit was hand-picked in 322-473 kg parcels with several passes in some vineyards at various ripening stages.
All parcels were long cool whole cluster fermentations. Then shoveled with pitchforks and
Basket Pressed. With a mix of one new, two second fill, and seasoned French oak Barriques for a 17-month stint in our cool cellar.
Only the very best barrels were selected & blended in the first week of spring - with all transfers done via gravity.
after a short time in tank. 2,200 bottles were filled without fining or filtration.
And of course after school we put the kids to work for their customary duties of helping put bottles in bags. While Mum & Dad wielded glue guns like Bonnie & Clyde!
To us 2023 Dero is a tasty, vibrant deep & complex release. And like all before it loves a big whiff of air to open up and show its full potential.
2023 Dero Syrah.
The following vineyards make an appearance to form our current release.
*Hoffmann DV Mickan Block Shiraz - Adrian Hoffmann.
*Wilton Hill Old Vine Shiraz Eden Valley - Joel Mattschoss.
*Marsen Springs Eden Valley Pinot Noir - Tony Walker.
*BVD Road Block Shiraz - Ebenezer.
*The Starship Block Shiraz - Flaxman Valley.
The fruit was hand harvested at various beaumes ranging from 300kg to 700kg parcels. The majority going through whole cluster fermentations. One small parcel was de-stemmed, hand plunged on skins for five weeks and Basket Pressed. All transfers in the cellar made gently via gravity and the wines put to French Oak Barriques with inclusion of one seasoned Hogs Head for a 17 month elevage in our cool cellar.
A Barrique of the previous years 2021 Dero, and the sister Barrique of 2021 Le Bomb both wonderfully stood the test of time in the cellar and are included in the blend.
Dero was bottled at the end of winter without fining or filtration with only a small addition of S02.
This release saw ruthless barrel selection, using only eight barrels of the sixteen available to give us a mere 1800L blend of the best wine we could produce.
In our opinion 2022 Dero is a broody, bright and slick rendition that comes to life with a good whiff of air and sits stylistically between the 20 & 21 releases. With a slight elevation in packaging such as a new bottle, Diam Tradition 30 and a little wax to top it off!