The pictuesque Plunkett Fowles vineyards occupy choice sites throughout the rolling plateaux at the heights of the Strathbogie Ranges. The quality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown here are clearly within the Ivy League of the finest Victorian fruit. An assemblage of roughly equaly proportions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white grapes share their origin equally between a variety of blocks within the Plunkett Fowles Upton Run and Whitegate Vineyards. The black grapes are drawn exclusively from the Trevor's Block at Whitegate.
Grapes are picked early and harvested throughout the cool of the night to ensure fruit temperature are low , thereby preserving primary fruit characters. The Pinot Noir grapes were whole bunch pressed, a process which minimises phenollic extraction and bitterness, leading to a more delicate wine. Batches are inoculated to culture EC1118, a strong competitive yeast which possesses the ability to ferment at low temperatures, create good flocculation and has excellent alcohol tolerance. Vinified in tank at 15ËšC to preserve primary fruit flavours, fermented to dryness, the wine was kept on its lees to add complexity. Stone Dwellers was held on secondary fermentation lees for a short period prior to bottling.
Lively appearance, creamy and long lasting with a continual fine bread. Bouquet shows bright citrus aromas with peach notes and some yeasty complexity. It has off-dry residual sugar, balanced alcohol, soft balanced tannins and refreshing acid. To accompany hors d'oeuvre, a pungent camembert or smoked mussels.
