2012MassenaTheEleventhHourShiraz

Sans The Massena venture was started by two High School mates, Dan Standish (formerly winemaker at Torbreck) and Jaysen Collins (previously manager at Turkey Flat). The duo are noted for trialling unusual varieties such as Primitivo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Roussanne, Saperavi and Tannat. The sixty year old Shiraz vines from Greenock that produced this wine were ready to be uprooted due to the lack of yields and the reluctance of other companies to pay extra for the A grade fruit. After repeated requests for access to these grapes, at ‘the eleventh hourâ€?the owners agreed to stop the bulldozer and retain a small area of vines. No American oak is used at Massena. After 16 months in French oak the wine was moved to tank in individual components for several months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration.