2024 Fearon Tempranillo
Region: Harvey, Geographe
Alcohol: 13.5%
Tasting Notes: dark cherry, charcuterie, soft plum and cassis
Pairing: beef ribs cooked over fire, or an aged Manchego cheese
Tasting Notes
Tempranillo is the hero red grape variety to the Geographe wine region, where the Spanish native has found a natural home. The regions sun-bathed warm climate guarantees full ripeness, and the vast diversity of soil-types, aspects and slopes gives rise to characterful expressions. This wine is reflective of the hot, dry and shorter growing season, being immediately bright, fresh and approachable in its youth. The nose is framed by blackberry and dark cherry, with more savoury characters of charcuterie, ironstone and coastal rosemary adding intrigue and complexity. The palate is more red fruited, with soft plum and cassis providing a supple fruit core, framed by sinewy rustic tannins that beg to paired with grilled red meat. A fresh acidity pulls the medium-full weighted palate through for a lingering finish. Best paired with beef ribs cooked over fire, or an aged Manchego. Cellarable for 2 - 10 years.
Vineyard
Fruit was sourced from the Fifth Estate vineyard in the Harvey sub-region of Geographe. The Harvey sub-region incorporates the more northerly extent of the Darling escarpment and the flatter Swan coastal plain centred upon the eponymous township and river, and is typically the warmest part of the Geographe wine region. The Fifth Estate vineyard is sited immediately north west of the Harvey township on deep, fertile and well-draining alluvial soils that transition from the escarpment to the coastal zone. The vineyard was originally planted to Shiraz, with a section grafted over to Tempranillo. The fruit was sourced from these vines.
Winemaking
Fruit was harvested in the cool hours of the morning of 2nd of February 2024, using a machine harvester with selective on-board destemming and sorting. Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit was transferred as whole berries directly into small open fermenters, and wild fermentation allowed to proceed. During fermentation the wine was gently plunged several times a day. Primary fermentation was completed after 17 days, after which the wine was drained and pressed off directly into new (20%) and seasoned French oak barriques. A neutral malolactic bacteria culture was added to the wine, and the barrels stirred periodically for eight weeks, after which the barrels were sulphured and topped. The wine was then aged in oak for 11 months and stirred periodically. In January 2025, the wine was racked out of oak into a stainless steel tank then racked again and bottled in February with no fining or filtration.
Season
The 2024 vintage will go down as one of the earliest, hottest and most compressed harvests in the viticultural history of southwest WA. A drier than average winter saw a slightly earlier than usual budburst, and the spring of 2023 was one of the driest and warmest on record. Early shoot growth was rapid, bringing forward further phenological milestones. Soil moisture deficiency affected flowering and fruit set, reducing yields somewhat. Irrigation was necessary from the end of spring through summer to maintain vine condition. Veraison was early and subsequent ripening rapid across all varieties, hastened by the recurrent heatwave conditions across January and February. One silver lining is the very low disease pressure, and abundant Marri tree flowering ensuring little bird pressure. White varieties fared well, with very early harvesting ensuring retention of natural acidity. Red varieties were exposed to the most intense of the several heatwaves that occurred during February, as a result reaching sugar ripeness far in advance of tannin (skin & seed) ripeness. All in all, a difficult growing season that perhaps gave a glimpse into more regular conditions under a warming global climate, and highlighted just how important selecting the appropriate varieties and planting sites will be to adapt to future conditions. The wines produced were very good, and with the earlier harvest dates will suit early-release and approachability.
