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2019 Pfeiffer Christophers Reserve Ruby
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An easy drinking, fruit-driven, fortified wine that derives its name from its brilliant ruby red hue. |
Description
| Availability |
NEW VINTAGE RELEASE
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| Grapes |
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Barocca, Tinta Cao, Sousao
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| Vintage |
2019
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| Seal |
A screw cap has been used on our 2019 Christopher's Reserve Ruby to maximise its flavour and freshness, and to eliminate the chances of cork taint.
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| Reviews |
2015 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
2015 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion
Not Shown Yet
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| Awards |
SILVER: Rutherglen Wine Show 2023
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| Fruit Sourcing |
Rutherglen
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| Harvest Date |
March, April 2019
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| Vintage |
Like most of south eastern Australia, Rutherglen experienced dry conditions winter and spring of 2018. Our annual rainfall for 2018 was well below the average 565mm, with only 316mm falling for the year. With such low rainfall, we were forced to commence irrigation in late September to try to build canopy strength. Irrigation continued throughout the rest of the year, constantly throughout the summer and also during the harvest.
We experienced one of our hottest summers on record, with several weeks of temperatures above 40C in January. These exceptionally hot and dry conditions resulted in low yields, particularly in Chardonnay for the whites (which was around 40% down), in Shiraz for the reds (which was around 50%) and in our Muscat and Topaques (which were around 50% down). Overall our yields were 25-30% lower than forecasted.
Vintage commenced on the 21st February, with Pinot Grigio, Frontignac and Shiraz all being harvested on the first day. We experienced yet another compressed vintage, with 90% of our intake being harvested in 5 weeks and the remaining 10% of our intake being harvested in the subsequent 4 weeks. This of course put a lot of pressure on fermenter space, refrigeration and our staff, with such an intense period in the vintage.
Fruit quality is good, with the white varieties showing strong varietal characters and surprisingly good acidity given the hot weather. Our red wines have exceptional deep and dark purple colours, with ripe, generous and concentrated flavours, very much reflective of the vintage. Our fortified wines have performed strongly as well, with our Portuguese varieties for our port styles being particularly good and our Muscat and Topaque wines having great lusciousness and depth of flavour.
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| Winemakers Comments |
This wine is a blend of three different parcels. The first parcel was 100% Touriga Nacional, the second parcel a blend of Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barocca and Tinta Cao (picked as a field blend for co-fermentation), and the third parcel was 100% Sousao. The Tintas and the Sousao were hand-picked into open fermenters and crushed by foot, while the Touriga was crushed into a static fermenter. A cold maceration occurred for around 4 days on each parcel. Fermentation occurred naturally, with a combination of hand pump overs and foot treading occurring three times daily. Each parcel was pressed just prior to fortification to maximize the extraction from the skins.
The base wines were allowed to settle, before being blended, fined and clarified prior to bottling.
Our 2019 Christopher’s Reserve Ruby has a bright garnet red colour. The nose is fresh and lifted, with red currant and plummy fruit flavours and subtle aniseed notes. The palate is fresh and fruitful, with rich and rounded mid-palate fruit and smooth, silky tannins giving great length.
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| Partners |
A decadent chocolate brownie.
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| Cellar |
Enjoy now until 2030
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| Vegan Friendly |
Yes
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| Yeast |
Wild yeasts – native to the vineyard.
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| Allergens |
Contains Sulphites
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| Technical Details |
Res. Sugar 79.20 g/L
pH 3.61
TA 4.12 g/L
Alcohol 18.1 % v/v |
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