Lakey Farm Heathcote Carmenere

The vineyard was planted in 1988 on gravelly iron-stone and basaltic clay soils. The frost-free and breezy location reduces vigour and fungal diseases. Drip irrigation is used to sustain the vines through the heat of Summer. Towards the end of the season, the vines are encouraged to rely more on seasonal rain. Bud-burst occurs in mid to late August, flowering in early December to Christmas, with verasion in early to late February. Grapes are not harvested until the optimal complexity for the season has been reached, typically from late March to April. We use our livestock in the vineyard for mowing, and we only intervene with sprays when the weather provides the conditions for growth of moulds. Our fruit is hand-pick, we allow our ferments to start with wild yeast from the vineyard. The season tells us when to produce our premium label "Wild"!