Apostrophe Possessive Reds 2018
The Apostrophe Red from Larry Cherubino is a delightful blend of three of the main grape varieties which Larry cultivates so well. This is a GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro) with a difference and from the new world and it's quite a delightful wine to drink. Each of the grapes works together in harmony and the resulting wine is firm in the tannins yet soft and complex in the mouth.
Named 'Winery of the Year' in James Halliday's 2011 Wine Companion, Larry Cherubino wants his wines to be distinctive and to speak clearly of their variety and vineyard site. He believes in spending time in the vineyard, in paying attention to canopy and water management, and most importantly, picking at the right time with minimal interference in the winery. From delicate whites to big reds his wines have class and finesse. The prodigious Australian producer also makes wine under the Laissez Faire name. These are a range of natural wines, and they are the ultimate expression of natural winemaking made in small batches from hand-harvested grapes.
Vintage
The 2014 warm summer cooled off in April, allowing fruit to ripen at a leisurely pace. Frankland River had an above average rainfall through the winter and spring months. The exceptional conditions during spring, allowed the gentle warming and for fruit set. Frankland experienced dry and warm days through April, providing excellent quality wine from the region.
Vineyard
The vineyards are located in the Frankland River region, which is considered to be one of the most distinctive viticulture areas in Australia. The flavour of wines grown here comes from an ironstone based soil. These gravelly soils also line the river valleys, rolling hills and lowlands. The vineyards are situated with a northern orientation, optimising the long sunlight hours, which promotes ripening and maturation of the grapes. The vines were planted in 1997, with 1650 vines per hectare.
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-picked and sorted, followed by fermentation in small lot fermenters. A moderate extraction was aimed for, thus ensuring vineyard characters were fully expressed. The wine was then aged in new and one year old oak, for six to eight months.
Tasting Note
Approachable, striking and modern, this red blend oozes complexity - with the Shiraz's earthiness tempering the Grenache's muskiness, which softens the Mataro's steeliness. Two may be company, but in this case three is perfection.
Serving Suggestion
Accompanies grilled red meats, barbequed food and gourmet sausages
Grape
Shiraz 90%, Grenache 8%, Mataro 2%
Country
Australia. Region: Western Australia
Alcohol: 14.5%
Contains Sulphites: Yes
Vegetarian/Vegan: No/No
Milk/Eggs: Yes/Yes
Organic/Biodynamic No/No
