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Ochota Barrels

2022

‘The Price of Silence’

Gamay   |   Adelaide Hills - Australia
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

In 1985, three clones of Gamay were planted high up in the Piccadilly Valley. A few years later, due to its unpopularity, these vines were grafted to Chardonnay. It wasn’t until 2013 that Taras convinced his grower mate, Sam, to chainsaw off the Chardonnay grafts and bring back canes from the Gamay rootstock evolving from there. Cuttings were taken of these three clones and grafted on established vines in Sam’s quartz-laden woodside vineyard, planted on a former gold mine. The site succumbed to the devastating wildfires in the Hills in 2020, but the vines have regained balance in 2022. As for the name, The Price of Silence is a reference to one of Taras and Amber’s favorite hardcore Aussie band.

The fruit was hand-harvested in April and placed into small half-ton fermenters. Half of the grapes were fermented whole-bunch partial carbonic for three weeks and the other half fermented entirely whole-cluster but open top with gentle hand plunging for roughly a week. The lots were basket-pressed directly to 500L French puncheons where the wine aged for five months. The wine was then blended to tank to settle naturally and bottled without fining or filtration and only a small 40ppm hit of sulfur dioxide.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Gamay
  • Vineyard: Eureka Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 10-years-old (planted in 1985 - regrafted in 2013)
  • Soil Type: Clay loam with veins of quartz on a former gold mine
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic - sustainable
  • Fermentation: Native – 50% whole-cluster open top for six days - 50% whole-cluster carbonic for three weeks
  • Skin Contact: 50% for six days - 50% for three weeks
  • Aging: 5 months in an old French puncheon
  • Alcohol: 12.6%
  • pH: 3.23
  • Total Acidity: 6.8 g/L
  • Total SO2: 40 ppm
  • Total Production: 386 cases

Tasting Note

A tightly wound classic example of Gamay which shows medicinal fragrance and savory spiced red currants. There is a polished mineral palate that is lithe and dense yet elegant in its long and pure finish.

Press & Reviews

Wine Enthusiast

95

"Since the untimely death of Taras Ochota, who was one of Australia's modern winemaker rock stars, his wife, Amber, has taken the reins, and wine quality hasn't suffered. This small-batch Gamay is oh-so-delicious with enticing plump berry fruit and spice aromas and a spicy, herbal, stony mineral underlay. Piercing acidity and chiseled tannins create linearity and drive. There's an ease and transparency to this that comes from minimal winemaking, and a drinkability that belies solid winemaking and varietal and site expression."

- Christina Pickard
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Producer


Ochota Barrels

Region


Adelaide Hills

Country


Australia

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