Winery & Vintage Info
The idea for an early-release, low-sulphur, unfiltered Grenache had been bubbling away for a few years and in 2017 access to the right fruit from a dry-grown vineyard, sparked the Basso project into life. From the Latin Bassus, meaning low, Basso is low in additions and speaks clearly of the place from which it comes.
Lighter, warm-climate red wines based on Grenache particularly from McLaren Vale have a growing place on the tables of Australian diners. Youthful and flavoursome wines that match where and how we live and the food we love to make and eat.
Mostly joyous but not without its challenges. Good winter rain led to strong growth with good cover in the mid row and under vine well into summer. Nervous expectation after two low yielding years muted conversations about the potential for a good year right up until harvest. No disease pressure, good canopies and plentiful bunches lead to a long ripening season. Some varieties tested patience and drew out vintage well in to May. The greatest challenge was having enough hours in the day and people to help with harvesting the plentiful and perfectly ripe fruit. What a relief!
Picked on the 27th of February with a Baume of 13.3. Fermented in open top fermenters with gentle pump overs and 9 days on skins before gentle pressing. Transferred after settling to large old French oak vats for malolactic fermentation and extended maturation. Racked twice and bottled, without fining or adjustment on the 16th of December 2021.
