HistoryOur WineVineyardsCooperagesTeamOrderingContactHome
The MAX V vineyards
Image for Eldredge
The MAX V Release

Although production is limited, the 2005 MAX V is now
available to all wine
enthusiasts and advocates of small batch winemaking.
Please register your interest
by contacting info@rocwines.com.au
or visit our ORDERING PAGE
for further details.


Members

Member's Login Page
Proceed to members section – with Behind the scenes, winemakers notes, barrel sample analysis, interviews
and a comprehensive photo gallery.

Charmers

MALBEC COMPONENT


Location   Southern Valley of the Clare
Sub Region   Sevenhill
Variety   Malbec
Approx. Yield   2.5 to 3 tonnes per acre
Property Size   6.4 Acres of Malbec
Age of Vines   Malbec vines were first planted in 1978 followed by replanting in 1994 and 1995
Soil type / Subsoils   The Sevehill/Polish Hill areas are an acidic red-brown clayey-loam. Geologically the region is of ancient shale and an extension of the famous Mintaro slate. (The slate quarry at nearby Mintaro remains the only site in Australia where it is possible to obtain a sheet of slate large enough for a full-size billiard table). Around the turn of the century drill holes were made at Polish Hill River in the hope of finding coal. The venture failed, and as modern geologists explain, the reason was that the shale of this area was laid down well before the evolution of plant forms. The top-soil is shallow, and the sub-soil is a heavy red clay. The superficial shale is fissured, and decomposing. The fissures extend deep into hard blue shale. It is these deep fissures that the vine roots seek to go deep for water.
Aspect   Slight Northerly

 

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT


Trellis System   (VSP) Vertical Shoot Positioning, trellis is treated pine posts 1.8m high with single cordon wire at 1.0m with two movable foliage wires
Vine Spacing   2-m vine spacing, 3-m row spacing set up for mechanical harvesting
Irrigation   The entire vineyard fitted with drip irrigation system. Irrigation is applied only when necessary in order to keep vines functioning at their optimum levels to produce quality grapes.
Hand Pruning   Hand spur pruning with fruit thinning is undertaken in order to reduce the number of buds per vine and keep vines at a premium. Both Mechanical and hand harvesting is undertaken.
Grape Protection   The Scharmers block location at the base of the Polish Hills contributes to an extended ripening process due to the St. Vincent gulf air flow which plays an important role in reducing the risk of frost.

 

GROWERS STATEMENT
This vineyard is planted on small ridge behind Seven Hill, a ridge that is well drained in all directions. This combined with careful supplementary irrigation allows for the growing of super premium Malbec, a variety that can be characteristically fickle. This is the best Malbec that we have observed throughout the Clare Valley. The fruit displays berries deep red in colour, is intense, with tight acid structure and is diverse in its flavour profile.

KEY FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS – Malbec
The earthy, dark-coloured, spicy Malbec grape adds a softness and earthy maturity to the Bordeaux blend. They can be high in tannin, yet show a fruity softness and distinctive bramble blackberry fruit. Quality Malbec is always deep in colour and rich in black fruits, with balanced acidity and rustic tannins.