98 points - Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal
December, 2022
98 points - James Halliday - The Weekend Australian Magazine
June, 2023
Ovitelli is the most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. Sourced from a single block, the vibrant fruit of those dry grown 1946 bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs.
VINTAGE SUMMARY
A favourable growing season, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period, with continued spring rainfall to ensure a healthy canopy. Yields showed good balance between vine vigor and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. The delayed harvest, with cold nights and mild sunny days, produced excellent fruit ripeness and intensity. The freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature.
WINEMAKING
Sourced from Block 30 (2.0 Ha, planted in 1946 and adjacent to the High Sands block).
Hand-picked 24-25th March and selectively berry sorted. 100% destemmed, crushed and tipped into 675L ceramic eggs. The fermentation occurred in the eggs and remained on skins for 133 days. No pressings are used in this wine. No oak, matured exclusively in the eggs for a total 13 months. Bottled June 2022. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.