Queen of Spades 2022

Hand-harvested, 100% whole bunch fermented for 15 days in open tank, then pressed and aged in one 500L French barrel. No yeast added, ambient fermentation. 100% malolactic fermentation (MLF bacteria not added). Unfined, light clarifying filtration. SO2 added after racking in August and none at bottling. The wine has a great definition to it, and we think this comes from the stem tannin that lifts it and the fruit profile with it.

Came across this vineyard through good friend, Rick McGrindle, a farmer from Abbotsdale/Paardeberg region. Thought Tempranillo was planted but it was Tinta Amarela, a grape I love from working in Portugal. Label is a photo taken by our friend Brian Short's brother (Kevin Short) while at Burning Man in the USA. The photo portray's a perception of a “Love/Hate” relationship between the Queen of Spades and the Queen of Hearts.