Innocent Bystander Tempranillo 2021 (King Valley)

Winemaking Notes
The Innocent Bystander Tempranillo 2021 is sourced from mature Tempranillo vineyards in the King Valley and warmer Heathcote region, showcasing the winemaking team's commitment to looking elsewhere to get the best grapes they can for styles of wine that don't grow so well in the Yarra Valley. This juicy, earthy, medium-bodied red is made famous by the Spaniards and bursts with vibrant red fruit smothered in dusty spice, perfect with all things chargrilled and wood-fired. The winemaking philosophy at Innocent Bystander is simple: take the fantastic grapes they've harvested and let their exceptional qualities mature through careful nurturing, with the bottom line being that they don't overwork their wines, treating them gently to ensure their bright fruit characters shine through on a long, smooth palate. The reds are treated to gentle fermentations in open top fermenters, which might include a portion of whole bunch or wild yeast ferment, allowing the dark cherry, red berries, and earthy spice aromatics to develop whilst preserving the juicy berries and cola tubes character on the palate. The gentle winemaking approach ensures the wine finishes with a dusty savoury spice that adds complexity and interest, with the beautiful integration between fruit intensity and savoury character creating a wine that provides immediate enjoyment whilst remaining sophisticated and elegant.

Vintage Conditions & Regional Character
Whilst the Yarra Valley is Innocent Bystander's home and where it all began—with a wine history that dates back well over 100 years and a reputation cemented in the last 15 years largely thanks to the fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced there—the team also loves a few styles of wine that don't grow so well around there, including taking juicy parcels of Tempranillo from Heathcote and the King Valley. The 2021 vintage provided excellent conditions for Tempranillo production in both regions, with the mature vineyards in the King Valley and warmer Heathcote region allowing the grapes to develop the vibrant red fruit character and dusty spice that define this wine. The combination of fruit from these two distinct regions creates diversity and complexity of flavours and aromas, with the King Valley component providing freshness and bright fruit character whilst the warmer Heathcote parcels contribute depth and earthy complexity. The 2021 vintage conditions allowed the Tempranillo to ripen fully whilst maintaining the balance between juicy berry flavours and savoury spice, resulting in a wine that displays deep ruby with purple hues and offers dark cherry, red berries, and earthy spice on the nose, with the palate delivering juicy berries and cola tubes finishing with dusty savoury spice that makes it perfect with all things chargrilled and wood-fired, showcasing Innocent Bystander's ability to source the best grapes from beyond the Yarra Valley to create exceptional wines.