Kerri Thompson is the poster child for large corporate winemakers, leaving the fold to make fantastic wines on her own. She was chief winemaker for Hardy’s Leasingham until 2006 when she left to make her first wines from the 2007 vintage. She has adopted a natural farming philosophy of both biodynamic and organic practices. This means she has eliminated all chemicals in the vineyards, believing these philosophies create a stronger environment for soil life and harnessing the energy of the environment.
5452 is the postcode for Watervale in the Clare Valley, where KT hails from. It is a 50/35/15 blend of Tempranillo, Shiraz and Grenache. The fruit is sourced from a dry grown and organically managed vineyard.
The wine is produced using traditional techniques of hand-picked fruit, individual ferments and then basket pressing. The wine is matured in 100% French oak barrels that are mainly 2 and 3 year old, to ensure the fruit is the defining feature. The Tempranillo provides a meaty and savoury backbone to the wine; while the Shiraz plumps out the palate and the Grenache provides perfume and lift.