Viticulture Vineyard: Soils: Harvest Date: Brix at Harvest: Clones:

Olssen's Garden Vineyard Lochar 10 May, 2001 23.6 Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaking Residual Sugar: pH: T.A: Alc: Closure: Cellaring

less than 1 g/L 3.58 5.8 g/L 13.0% Cork 3 to 7 years

Winemakers notes The grapes for Robert the Bruce were hand-picked, destemmed but not crushed. The grapes were left to cold soak for two days to aid colour and flavour extraction prior to starting fermentation. After fermentation of about nine days the wine was gently pressed off skins into (half each) French and American oak barrels. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and was left to mature for twelve months before being racked from barrel and bottled unfiltered in June 2002.

Wine description A blend of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes located on a hot, stony north-west slope. Soft and voluptuous, it is classic Southern Rhone in style, dry and full with smooth aromas and flavours of mushrooms and cow byres. Made in minute volumes, it is very much, first come first served. Awards Bronze medal: 2002 Air New Zealand Wine Awards