Scylla Nero d'Avola 2024

Story

Scylla was the legendary monster that lived opposite her counterpart Charybdis in the Strait of Messina, the channel of water between Calabria and Sicily – where Nero d’Avola originates. The idiom “between Scylla and Charybdis” has come to mean the lesser of two evils.

Tasting Note

Generously perfumed, svelte, velvety and medium to light bodied. Ripe raspberry, strawberry, crisper cranberry and succulent pomegranate lead into a vibrant acid line and fine savoury tannins. In the background, elements of wild nettle, white stone minerality and light dry spices add texture and complexity. The wine remains beautifully poised, generous yet effortless, balanced and bright throughout a long flavourful finish. 

Winemaking

Whole berry destemmed, 2 day cold soak and fermentation in 2 tonne open fermenters with twice daily pump overs throughout. Temperatures were kept cool, between 20 and 24˚C, to capture the variety's perfumed aromatics. Natural malolactic fermentation and maturation in 100% seasoned French oak hogs head barrels for 13 months. This wine was kept on lees to build silk and flesh around the crisp acid backbone, before racking and light filtration prior to bottling. No finings were used.  

Vineyard

Lopresti Ridgehaven Vineyard - Hahn Road, Sellicks Hill, McLaren Vale. 

The site is defined by its red-brown clay loam soils, atop Christies Beach formation. Shattered rock appears throughout the profile, becoming more prevalent at its base where Nero d’Avola and Montepulciano reside. A north-westerly aspect captures ample sunlight, ensuring flavour ripeness and plush tannin maturity in the fruit, whilst strong gully winds from the Ranges cool the vineyard into the evening.

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