d'Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2018 (McLaren Vale)

‘Garage wines’ is a term used to describe wines that are produced in the back sheds of French winemakers, who make small batch wines of the highest quality. Our galvanised, corrugated ‘garage’ was built in 1927 and still houses the traditional equipment used in the handcrafting of this wine.

Quite a wet winter with July, August and September being way above average in rainfall. October, November and December were a little below average and January, February and March were more or less bone dry. Temperatures were mild until late January, so vines seemed to be delayed and harvest appeared like it was again going to be late. However, a few hot days and nights brought the ripening forward with slight sacrifice of acidity. The above average temperatures of February and March and the dryness made everything ripen relatively quickly. Yields appeared on the lighter side, because the heat and dry conditions did reduce them significantly, however they were still quite respectable across all varieties.

Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to open fermenters. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation, the wine is basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of new and old French oak to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, there is no racking until final blending and no fining or filtration.

Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) Merlot (14%) Petit Verdot (13%) Cabernet Franc (3%)