Winery & Vintage Info
The Rufus Stone story dates back to medieval England and refers to the death of King William II, known as Rufus. Rufus was believed to have been killed by an errant arrow fired by Sir Walter Tyrrell - an ancestor of the Tyrrell family.
Today the site of this infamous incident is marked by the Rufus Stone. Since 1997, Tyrrell's historical association with the Rufus Stone has been utilised for its top non-Hunter red wines, sourced from vineyards in Heathcote and McLaren Vale.
A typical warm dry summer leading into a cool harvest period. Good leaf to ripen the 2.5 tonne per acre, harvest started on the 14th March and ending on the 26th March. Fermented for 2 weeks at the family’s winery. 20 years on from Tyrrell’s first plantings in Heathcote.
The grapes were harvested in the cool of the night at less than 12°C and transported to the Hunter Valley for vinification. The co-fermented Viognier (2%) adds lift and mid-palate roundness. 24 months in French oak barriques to mature and soften with 10% new oak to add lift and subtle structure. Winery Notes
