Utopos - GSM - Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2019
Utopos is located in the Barossa Valley, in South-Australia. This estate was created by "2021 Young Winemaker of the Year" Kym Teusner (of Teusner Wines) and his friend Neil Pahuja. Neil Pahuja had the desire and the financial capacity to start producing fine wines and asked Kym to help him in this process. Shortly after, a vineyard that Kym had coveted since its beginnings in the Barossa Valley hit the market. The 20-hectare vineyard was therefore acquired, and Kym also kept a small part of it. The vineyard is located on Roennfeldt Road, straddling one of the highest points on the boundary between the best sub-regions of the Barossa Valley, Greenock and Marananga, perched on the northern end of the stone ridge of iron. The vineyard is made up of lean, impoverished stony soils that consistently produce low yields of high quality grapes. The exceptional geology of the site and the ability to grow grapes on these ancient and shallow soils is a major asset.
The 2019 is a blend of Mataro/Mourvèdre (50%), Shiraz (25%) and Grenache (25%). The grapes are vinified separately in open fermenter. They go throught a cold soaking for 7 days, then a cultured yeast is added and the alcoholic fermentation starts. Two pumping-over per day are carried out. The wine is racked off the gross lees to barrel after a few days settling for malolactic fermentation. After blending, the wine is aged for 2 years in French oak puncheons (500-600 litres); 40% of which are new, the rest are second- and third-fill barrels.
Grape varieties: 50% Mataro, 25% Shiraz, 25% Grenache