Swinney Mencía 2022

Swinney Mencía is a whole-bunch fermented red from a single row of vines in Frankland River.

There is one row of vertically trellised Mencía in the north-facing part of the Powderbark vineyard, which limits Rob Mann to a single hogshead a year. Plans exist for a staked planting higher up the same site, but that is some way off. Fruit is hand-picked and gravity-fed to one 600-litre open-top demi-muid. Mann uses 100 per cent whole bunches here, chasing the depth, structure, heightened spice and what he describes as an almost curry-leaf reduction that comes with them. Ten days on skins, then 11 months in an old 300-litre French hogshead. His affection for the granite-grown reds of north-west Spain is no secret.

Perfumed and juicy: berry fruit, summer flowers, brown spice, then a fleshy palate with cranberry acid and chalky tannin running to a long mineral finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees with roast pork, grilled octopus or a chorizo and potato stew.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.