TASTING NOTE
The nose is beguiling for its exotic spices, floral notes, fresh red fruit, earth, charcuterie
and iodine. The combination of Mourvèdre and Isolation Ridge gives a head-spinning
sensorial mix that smells refreshing. Dried rose petals, musk, incense, cinnamon, spiced
cherries, cranberry, terracotta and fine prosciutto are all there. The entry is precise, but
then all these threads unfurl on a palate that is pretty, juicy and succulent. The tannins -
somewhere between Syrah and Nebbiolo in character - are dusty and discreet, allowing
the spice, herbs, flowers and ferrous mineral echoes to unspool through a rippling,
refreshing finish. A sleek, lacy rendition of this grape that really shows its affinity with the
site.
We’ve found this lightness of touch in the last few years with Mourvèdre. We’re getting
really good stuff out of the skins – a redcurrant brightness that plays so nicely off the
earth and charcuterie. That intrigue - those extra twists and turns on the palate - is what
we’re looking for. – Brian Kent
2022 VINTAGE
A profound vintage for Frankland River. A very wet and cold winter was followed by a cool
and wet spring, which wet the soil profile all the way through, providing ideal conditions
for good growth and fruit set on the vines. Drier conditions from December onwards, with
nice warm days without being hot, allowed the vines to carry a good crop through to
harvest. Fruit for this wine was harvested from late March to early April. The long
hangtime rewarded grapes with lovely maturity and flavour.
VINEYARD
Mourvèdre was first planted on the Isolation Ridge Vineyard in 2005, making these vines
the oldest in the region for this variety. The maturity of the vines - together with our
deepening understanding of the grape and the wine it wanted to be – led to its ascendancy
to the Isolation Ridge range, and it is just getting better. We are delighted with this wine.
VINIFICATION
The grapes were destemmed and fermented in small, open pots. The wine was pressed
reasonably quickly after primary ferment to keep the tannins in check, then matured in
puncheons for 14 months. We love this wine’s savoury aspect and the way it highlights
the elegance with power that comes from Isolation Ridge. With vine age, the signature
ferrous notes are clearly written. This wine has an exciting future.
14% Alc. Drink 2024 – 2036

95 points - "Liquorice/aniseed, violet, cherry and raspberry, dried herbs, camphor, peanut shells, orange peel, smoked tea leaf – all the things! It’s medium-bodied, meaty and savoury, strewn with dried herb/flower perfume, grainy sooty tannin chew, shitake mushroom and other umami stuff, a pomegranate tang to lively acidity, with a dusty dry and ferrous finish of excellent length. Such character. Terrific." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points - "I have a soft spot for this savoury, rustic yet utterly charming wine. While it has a core of sweet red cherries and plums doused in warm spices with some licorice, it’s the meatiness, the twigs, earthiness and woodsy/oak flavour that come to the fore. The tannins are gravelly, the mid-weighted palate attuned to the acidity flowing through. It’s satisfying and the consensus is, please pass another glass alongside the charcuterie platter." - Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "I remember really loving this wine last year, albeit it was memorably smoky and spiced. Here, the 2022 Isolation Ridge Vineyard Mourvèdre is sensational, again, with the same smoky backdrop of flavor and lean as hell but with notes of freshly grated nutmeg, smokehouse almonds, black cherry, hot asphalt, a lick of licorice/aniseed, dark chocolate and mulberry. There are also peppercorns of many persuasions, cracked and mingling, and texturally seamless. This is an excellent wine. It is not the only outstanding Mourvèdre coming from Frankland River, both grown and made in this finer, leaner style, too. Seek it out." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)