Clare Valley Nero d’Avola by Mount Horrocks

Clare Valley Nero d’Avola by Mount Horrocks

TASTING NOTES FOR CLARE VALLEY NERO D’AVOLA BY MOUNT HORROCKS

Bright red with lifted, generous aromas of red berry fruit and floral notes. The palate is bursting with cherry and other red berries, lively spice and a crisp, tangy edge. So fresh and zippy, with typical ‘Italian’ minerality, gentle but firm tannins and long-lasting fruitiness on the palate.

PRODUCER OF CLARE VALLEY NERO D’AVOLA

Mount Horrocks Wines, in Clare Valley, is owned by winemaker Stephanie Toole, who purchased the estate in 1993 after a career selling fine wines in Perth. By April 1998, she had renovated the historic Auburn Railway station as her cellar door, and by 2000, she had acquired land in Watervale to plant vineyards. These include the ‘Cordon Cut’ vineyard, close to the cellar door, which has been planted only with Riesling. The ‘Alexander’ vineyard at Watervale is planted with just Shiraz, while the ‘Watervale’ vineyard boasts Riesling, SemiIIon, Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape varieties are carefully matched to each site’s soil and microclimate. With this level of care and attention to detail, it is unsurprising that Stephanie’s wines are now regarded as among Clare Valley’s finest. To quote James Halliday’s 2023 Wine Companion, “Stephanie Toole has never deviated from the pursuit of excellence in the vineyard and winery. The attention to detail and refusal to cut corners are obvious in all her wines.”

Mount Horrocks are now ‘A grade certified’ organic and biodynamic, one of only two wineries locally to do so. As all fruit is hand-picked and gently handled, fining is unnecessary, meaning all the wines are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Having overseen the regeneration of the land, Stephanie believes this involves more than certification; it requires a different way of thinking. Classic, no-compromise winemaking combined with a fully integrated organic and biodynamic approach to growing and making sets Mount Horrocks Wines apart from the status quo.

Stephanie’s wines are designed with food in mind, emphasising structure and generous fruit flavours. She restricts production to no more than 2,500 cases each year to achieve her aims of quality and single-vineyard expression. Each release from Stephanie seems to eclipse the quality standard set by the previous vintage. The ‘Watervale’ Riesling is a regional classic. The Semillon is barrel fermented and simply exquisite, while the ‘Cordon Cut’ Riesling ranks among Australia’s best sweet wines. Stephanie’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are ethereal, elegant expressions from Clare and get better every year. Stephanie decided to make a Nero d’Avola after falling for the variety on a trip to Sicily. Hand-picked at full ripeness, it is a bright and lively wine, with medium weight and bursting with muscular fruit.

As no finings have been found necessary the wines are all suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Only the finest French oak barriques are used for those wines spending time in barrel.

To see our full range of Mount Horrocks wines please click here.

For more information on the winery go to http://www.mounthorrocks.com/about/cellar-door-cafe/

Mount Horrocks Wines restricts production to approximately 2,500 cases per annum to achieve the highest quality single vineyard wines. All three estate-owned Clare Valley vineyards, totaling ten hectares, are ‘A grade certified’ by Australian Certified Organic (ACO).

Only estate grown grapes are used and these are hand-picked and gently handled under conditions that ensure the varietal and site-specific flavours in the resultant wine, as well as its organic status, are retained.

Clare Valley Nero d’Avola by Mount Horrocks