Description
Fordson Zinfandel (a.k.a. Primitivo) is a single vineyard wine that’s been grown, vintaged and matured on the Kalleske property. Vigilant grape growing combined with traditional winemaking and maturation in seasoned French and American oak hogsheads has resulted in a flavoursome varietal Zinfandel displaying classic structure and richness typical of the Kalleske vineyard.
For 97 years horses were used to work the vineyard and land. This changed in 1950 when a new type of horse-power arrived on the property, a ‘Fordson’ Major tractor. The Fordson soon became a valuable and integral part of vineyard and farm activities.
Growing Season
The 2022 vintage was excellent. Winter was significantly wetter than average getting the vines off to a brilliant start leading into Spring which was cool with median rainfall. Summer was mild and dry apart from rain on the last day. Autumn remained mild with generally perfect mid-20s weather combined with cool nights ensuring steady even ripening across all varieties. The 2022 yields were good and the quality is great, a classic Barossa vintage displaying rich flavours with fine balance.
Vineyard
Fordson is a single vineyard Zinfandel from the Kalleske property. The hand-pruned vines are low-yielding and are grown in shallow, sandy loam soil over superb deep red clay.
Winemaking
The grapes were crushed and all stalks were included in the fermenters to add tannin, structure and complexity. The native wild yeast from the vineyard were left to naturally ferment with temperature peaking at 30 degrees C. Heading down boards were used in the fermenters, completely submersing the skins and stalks in the fermenting juice to ensure gentle extraction. After 10 days on skins, the must was pressed to tank for natural malolactic fermentation and brief maturation prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
Colour:
Dark magenta-red.
Aroma:
Expressly fragrant. Sweet perfume of spring flowers, violets and blue summer berries.
Palate:
Richly flavoured, juicy plum and blue fruits. Full-bodied, plush. Mild tannin. Varietal. Long finish. Elements of sweet raspberry jam, flowers, red liquorice, sweet cloves, stewed rhubarb, vintage fortified, wintergreen.
Recommended Drinking:
Drink now to 5 years.