General News
2 November, 2022
New wines from Black Wallaby
LODDON winery Black Wallaby last week gave its new release wines an official launch. The latest vintage releases have been made from fruit grown in a cooler season.“This has given us the ability to make wines showing more of their true...
LODDON winery Black Wallaby last week gave its new release wines an official launch.
The latest vintage releases have been made from fruit grown in a cooler season.
“This has given us the ability to make wines showing more of their true characteristics and better expression across the varieties,” said winemaker Dave Lawson.
“The cooler ripening season - February, March, April - allowed the grapes to hang on the vine longer and this has helped with better flavours in these wines.”
Black Wallaby’s flagship 2021 vintage shiraz The Joey was produced using the French method of carbonic maceration.
“We handpicked the fruit, fermented the whole bunches in bins and removed stems after three weeks,” Dave said.
“The Joey for this vintage is more a style of bright popping fruit, vibrant and with less tannins.
“Punch pops out with the lighter Joey style compared with our other, older shiraz that was more typical of the central Victorian shiraz style with an oak influence.
“The year was warmer, the wine was more concentrated and darker fruit.”
Last week’s vintage launch in Bendigo was the first time Black Wallaby had officially unveiled its new releases.
“We had been looking to have a launch a few years back but then COVID came along,” Dave said.
Black Wallaby last week started bottling its 2022 vintage.
First into bottles has been the rose while this week shiraz, sangiovese and grenache varietals are moving from barrel to bottle.
And the winery’s 2020 sparkling rose will be released before Christmas.
Dave is also keeping a close eye on his vineyards as tiny bunches of fruit emerge.
He said particular attention was on preventing shoots in the vine canopies and protecting young fruit as rains continue to fall.
Dave expects that weather conditions might decrease overall production this year.
While there remains decreased demand from China for Australian wine with companies loosing contracts, he said there was demand for local grapes from other regional winemakers,
Dave said Black Wallaby should have a good vintage in 2023 in another cool La Nina season.
“Provided we keep (vine and fruit) disease at bay, it should be another good season for quality,” Dave said as he prepared for bottling.