Mount Barker Western Australia
La Violetta is the dream and creation of Andrew Hoadley and whilst not being one of Australia’s best know winemakers, he represents the new face of the Australian Wine industry – Small, quality minded winemakers, who are making wines aiming at precision and elegance rather than just power. They are also doing it whilst working within larger wineries, where they have access to the infrastructure that is critical for top quality winemaking.
Andrew sources the grapes from a few trusted growers with exceptional vineyards and his philosophy is to keep production to a limited scale so that each wine is personally hand crafted. He draws his inspiration from his time working in Piedmont Italy, where the wines are more about balance and enjoyment with food, rather than just power and sweet fruit. The name La Violetta is taken from an old Piedmontese song celebrating “intoxications” so you kind of get where Andrew is heading with his wine styles.
Whilst the Margaret River boasts an established and well earned reputation, it is further south in areas like Mount Barker that the state’s most exciting wines are being made. The all round cooler temperatures, coupled with higher altitudes are prime conditions for cool climate wine production and in particular spicy, peppery Shiraz. The fruit for this wine was sourced from one of the oldest vineyards in the Mount Barker region of WA – planted 30 years ago. The long cool growing seasons and sandy granitic soils help to create a beautifully structured Shiraz with a remarkable depth and intensity.
It is intensely aromatic on the nose, reminiscent of blueberry and green olive, with earthy spice and floral notes. On the palate, natural savoury tannins serve to balance the spicy peppery flavours that linger with a long finish