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.
The second year of the current La Nina cycle saw a wild, wet winter and spring followed by a mild summer with no heat spikes and a dry autumn. Veraison was two weeks behind normal, setting winemaker’s teeth on edge. All were keen to get into the guts of vintage but were forced to wait which made for some very clean wineries prior to harvest. Poor flowering due to wild weather in spring including high winds, frost, and hail lead to lower than desired yields. Quality was good due to the long slow ripening period. Whites retained great acidity and reds developed depth of flavour and complex tannins. A vintage to seek out and keep.
Picked on the 16th of March and crushed with a small percentage of whole bunches left in the bottom of the open top fermenter. Daily pump overs and 14 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 7th of February 2023.
