When asked about the meaning behind the name of this wine, a four word sentence was all it took to sum it up. “Someone great is gone.” A simple sentence, but one that carries a lot of weight. Taras Ochota was Louis Schofield’s beloved mentor and friend, and his passing brings the kind of sorrow and reverence that makes things a little more clear. This cuvée was born in that vein, out of the desire to make a Grenache that is lighter than the normal full-bodied options from McLaren Vale. Only one barrel of this wine is made every year, and it is always their best. After a challenging vintage in 2023 when Louis didn’t make this wine, they once again had a standout parcel in 2024 and so their top wine made a comeback.
The grapes were harvested from 66-year-old vines from the Wood Vineyard in McLaren Flat. They were placed into an open top fermenter and fermented spontaneously (100% whole-bunch). After 24 days on skins and stems, the wine was pressed off and sent to one big, very old oak barrel for 12 months of aging. It was then bottled with a coarse filtration and dosage of sulfur. No fining.
