2021 Patrick Underwood 'Chalmers' Nebbiolo

About The Wine

This wine is grown on the new Chalmers Vineyard Nebbiolo planting in Colbinabbin, expertly farmed by Troy and Fleur McInnes for the Chalmers family. The vineyard contains a highly diverse array of clones. The vines go across the middle of the east-facing slope with an east-west orientation. The soils are ancient Cambrian meta-basalt, and this particular block is planted where the subsoils (greenstone and quartz) protrude through clay and silt. Pat views this parcel as the best for the variety in the region. He should know!

The most structured, high-acid clones were selected to produce perfumed and long-lived wine. The bunches were picked on 18^th March before destemming and co-fermentation, with regular pumpovers, and occasional rack and return, over 21 days. The wine was drained from the skins without pressing into stainless steel. It was periodically racked between stainless-steel vessels for two months before a year-long maturation in a new 2100-litre Garbelotto Slavonian oak cask. Before filling, the cask was saltwater seasoned for two months to remove oak tannin and toasting char. Regular racking with small sulphur additions occurred during the maturation before bottling by hand on 25th June 2022.

Reviews

"A stunner by any measure, but especially so for nebbiolo, revealing both its beauty and its power. An elegant and fragrant introduction in rose petal and musk, red licorice, bright red fruits and wild herbs. A lovely purity is displayed on the palate, aromatic, lifted, medium bodied and well shaped in ripe, cherry tannins. It's a fine-edged youngster tight in trademark nebbiolo acidity and one with a big future." 95 points, Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion 

“A bright, vibrant, tannin-shaped red of crystalline texture, fine grip, dark cherry fruit, woody spices, some earthiness and a crackle of blood orange/amaro through its latter stages. A touch diffuse in terms of fruit character but structure and general sense of vitality and energy is in the spotlight. The tannin profile is very Italianate, as hoped or expected, fine and lacy to start with a building grumble of grippiness to close. Very pleasing, good DNA of the variety, a winning thing to drink.” 93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

About Little Reddie

You won’t find a more dedicated, thoughtful and meticulous winemaker than Patrick Underwood. Pat works with unique vineyards in Central Victoria; from dry-grown plots in Malmsbury, to obscure plantings of indigenous Venetian varieties in Colbinabbin, to iron-rich sites planted to mineral Nebbiolo. His relationships with his growers are fiercely warm and tight, sharing ethics and values towards the land. In the cellar, Pat’s approach is one of passion, intuition and minimal intervention.

Region: Central Victoria

Country: Australia

Alcohol: 13.3%

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml

Closure: Cork

Varietal: Chardonnay