Ricca Terra Bullets Before Cannonballs Blend 2020
Type: Red
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, Riverland
Grape Variety: Tempranillo, Shiraz, Lagrein, Lambrusco, Petite Syrah, Aglianico
Climate: Warm and dry climatic conditions
Terroir: Vines grow on a soilbed of shallow, sandy, red loam over calcrete. Average age of wine is 18 years old
Winemaking: The grapes selected in this blend were hand-picked and then placed in a cool room immediately after harvest to preserve fruit quality. The aim in making this was to allow the fruit flavours at the forefront. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel and entirely destemmed. Fermentation is carried out naturally in used French oak barrels and over a period of 7-20 days, depending on the lot. Secondary fermentation was carried out naturally throughout the spring and after 12 months of ageing, the wine was blended and racked to tank to harmonize together. It was bottled without fining or filtration
Color: Dark red
Nose: Aromas of blueberry, plum, dark chocolate, and herbs
Palate: Very fragrant, medium-bodied red of high drinkability and charisma. Crunchy red-black berry fruit characters, light sweetness but coupled to ultra spicy notes and a squeaky, tangy, herb-laced finish
About the Winery:
Ashley and Holly Ratcliff’s Ricca Terra Farms set out to shake up perceptions of the Riverland as a region that only grew grapes for generic bulk wine. They believed that by implementing quality-minded practices and focusing on climate-apt varieties, they would be able to unlock the region’s potential. By any measure, they have succeeded, elevating the profiles of grapes like Nero d’Avola, Fiano, Aglianico and Arinto in the process. But that wasn’t all, with the Caravel Vineyard planted relatively recently to largely celebrate Portuguese varieties, like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão and Tinta Barroca, along with some more Italians. The fruit goes to their own Ricca Terra and Terra do Rio labels, as well as being sold to top makers around the region.
Today’s Ricca Terra farms are planted to some classic French mainstay varieties, like with much of the Riverland, but many are old vine plots from soldier settlement schemes from WWI and WWII. Along with renovating old olive groves and farmhouses, this is as much about preserving history as anything, with a raft of Italian and Iberian varieties taking the progressive lead across the 10 sites, with 80 hectares of land under vine, and over 30 grape varieties represented.
