De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate Durif 2024 is grown on Shelley’s and Melville’s vineyards on the eastern edge of the Rutherglen region — a distinctive mix of gravel, clay and alluvial soils that generates the concentration and complexity that define this wine. Winemaker Marc Scalzo has crafted an expressive, approachable Durif of genuine power and elegance from what the team are calling one of the standout vintages of the last 10 years.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Vibrant red with dark purple hues — excellent depth of colour reflecting the concentrated fruit character of the vintage.
Aroma
Inviting aromas of spiced plum, mocha and blackberry preserves. Rich and brooding with invigorating spice from time in oak.
Palate
Flavours of licorice allsorts, concentrated dark berries and an earthy finish. Classic grainy Durif tannins support this elegant expression of Rutherglen’s famed variety — structured and persistent, yet well-integrated and approachable.
Grapes are selected from the best Durif blocks on Shelley’s vineyard, partially crushed into red fermenters, and picked when tannins are ripe and the grapes are still plump and fresh. Colour and tannin are extracted early in fermentation using longer pump overs to ensure a softer extraction, before the wine ferments for 10–14 days on skins to maintain a bright and vibrant fruit profile. Aged in a mix of French and American oak including 10% new oak — a combination that delivers tightness and roundness on the palate whilst helping to soften the tannins.
Vintage Conditions
2023 was a slightly cooler than average year without any extreme heat events, but a very wet and stressful spring made for a difficult growing season. Fortunately, conditions normalised post-December, with February and March drying out and delivering ideal mild days that resulted in a fantastic year for Rutherglen’s red varieties. The season finished three weeks later than average — and in the words of the winemaking team: “We feel fortunate to have ended up with the wines we have in the cellar.”
