Blend
Shiraz (96%), Viognier (4%)

Season
The 2011-2012 season was moderately cool and relatively dry in western Victoria.  The yield was consequently very modest – the shiraz grapes developed beautiful ripe, fleshy tannin.

Viticulture
From the Malakoff vineyard near Landsborough in the Pyrenees, Victoria. Approx. 300m above sea level.  Red ferrous clay with heavy deposits of quartz and ironstone throughout

Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested at between 12.5 and 13 Baume. Fermentation with whole bunches and natural yeast took place in open fermenters which were worked by pigeage to extract flavour and tannin. Parcels went through a natural malolactic fermentation and ageing in a mix of new and seasoned Allier and Troncais oak. Blending and bottling took place in April 2013.

Taste
A side step from the home of the cold Canberra hills, Alex has sourced fruit from the Pyrenees to continue his savoury shiraz journey. With a bit more grunt than the Marked Tree, the Folded Blue has more obvious barrel spice and notes of cocoa, it also has more dense fruit and all round mouth coating structure. It treads the line between medium to just on the cusp of full bodied. Rich dark and just stopping short of being brooding. This is very good, and hard to put down