CRFT Mencia – Wild South Vineyard 2023
The Wine
Situated on the corner of Wild Street and South terrace on the slopes of Williamstown, The Wild South Vineyard is a very Australian scene. The old gum trees, rolling hills and the craggy bushland of the neighbouring Hale Conservation Park make you feel like one of McCloud’s Daughters are going to canter over the hill… on a brumby. The soil is visually spectacular too! The mica in the soil makes it sparkle in sunlight.
Destemmed to an open-top tank for wild fermentation with around 2 weeks on skins. Then pressed to oak for wild malolactic fermentation followed by maturation for 6 months with regular lees stirring. 100% French oak, all seasoned barriques 3yo+. Bottled October 2023. Vegan friendly.
The colour of the wine is dark with bright red hue. Strawberry, raspberry and pomegranate on the nose, with dried herbs and nettles. The palate is vibrant, fresh, loaded with juicy red fruit, it lingers with notes of vanilla and boysenberry.
Organically grown and made (uncertified).
Drink/cellar to 2029.
92 pts Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion 'A very aromatic, medium-bodied red wine, indeed, a shiny, happy and utterly delightful perfume with its cherry, raspberry, cherry cola, rose petal, garam masala spice and alpine herb lift. The palate has this nice softness to it, a haze of very light tannin, savoury, turned earthiness in red cherry, raspberry and sooty spices. It's got a sense of generosity and plushness but does an about-face and gives us refreshment factor and vitality with each sip. What a charming wine! It also delivers the idea of mencia, its brightness and red fruits, spice and savouriness, very well.'
The Details
Variety - Mencia
Country - Australia
Region - South Australia
Sub Region - Barossa Valley
Extra - Screwcap
Year - 2023
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries were lucky enough to discover winemaking in their late teens. Frewin studied in NZ and Candice in South Australia with the vintages around the world ensuing. The couple met in 2005, started CRFT in 2012 and married in 2014. Their love for Grüner Veltliner coupled with a shared obsession with single vineyard Pinot Noir and Shiraz, helped to channel the creation of CRFT. The Arranmore Vineyard was purchased in 2016 located in the Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, and was immediately converted to organic farming. In February 2019 the Vineyard became NASAA Certified Organic.
Championing the incredible diversity of soils and climates across South Australia’s sub-regions, all CRFT wines are produced with the view to reflect the essence of the location it was sourced from, from the soils up to the seasons. Small batch, with only two to three tonnes picked from each block, (creating roughly 2000 bottles per variety).
Created with love and respect to the grape and land on which it is produced.
