2008 Graciano

I must thank John Durham – past winemaker of Cape Mentelle, for exposing me to this variety in 1999.  I was immediately captured by this typical ‘European’ style. Its make-up is something I still remember.

We immediately made plans to plant a couple of acres, producing our first vintage in 2003.

Yields can be quite inconsistent with enormous time being spent in the Vineyard to manipulate vines and regulate crop levels. But the results speak for themselves.

We continue to employ more traditional techniques throughout the process. Hand plunging skins, the use of natural wild yeasts and a good percentage of whole bunches help to bring through those typical Graciano characteristics.