Pinot Noir, Sangiovese & Shiraz were destemmed and fermented in a vats. 27% Pinot Noir from Hunts Rd  Vineyard is chosen because of its perfume and voluptuous palate. 42% Sangiovese is a portion of the stellar Panton Vineyard, Shoreham. 31% Shiraz is off 100 Hunts in Merricks North. There is a tipping point with tannin – if the ferment is low in tannin then the tannin will “drop out” over the following few weeks or months. We experience this problem with ultra-cool climate Pinot Noir. This type of co-fermentation stabilizes the Pinot Noir tannin by naturally attaching to the more stable tannins of Sangiovese and Shiraz. We think this is the essential role of this co-fermentation. Post-barrel blending would not produce the same array of luscious tannin as this co-ferment. Panton Sangiovese provides the acid and the astringency and the Shiraz has the spice and the deeper burly tannins. Time on skins exceeded 33 days, by which time the fruit cap had sunk and the free run could be easily separated from the skins without pressing. The wine was transferred to 500 litre French Oak barrels for 24 months of integration and maturation.

Bottled 28th June 2023, 330 dozen in total.

Sangiovese is the spine, quivering with acidity, sought out by Italians. Attached is the dark cherry, dried fig, roses, and warm embrace of Shiraz. Pinot Noir takes over the final furlong for a luxurious, satin-silk finish. The deep, brooding, black olive, and cherry-ripe scented nose captures the Italian inspiration of Rageous. Neither light nor full-bodied, Rageous evolves across the palate as each variety vies for attention. The unconventional set of tannins, courtesy of the blend of varieties, are youthful and grippy, yet nicely rounded off by the oak. Acidity underpins this wine, weaving through smoky red cherry and sweet raspberry fruit. It has a juicy finish with bundles of flavour.

The nonsense prose on the label ‘In the land of mules there are no rules’ was penned by Ogden Nash. Rageous is a mule who lived on our vineyard in that first vintage of 2006. Rageous is our wine that is a blend of grape varieties that outraged the conservatives with our first vintage in 2006, and so all the words and nonsense landed on the label.

A blend of vineyards; Panton (Shoreham) Sangiovese, 100 Hunts (Merricks North) Shiraz and Pinot Noir. In 2021 100Hunts Vineyard awarded inaugural vineyard of the year Mornington Peninsula ( Alan Antcliff Award)

First vintage 2006

Rageous began as an alternative application for regional hero Pinot Noir, inspired by the illustrious Super Tuscan blends of Bolgheri and has matured into one of our most cherished wines; an encapsulation of contrast and cohesion. Half and half donkey and horse, in no way a hybrid but a spirited beast that cares naught for public opinion. Rageous is a mule who lived in our paddock with his friend Memphis.

Panton Vineyard is the successful pioneer of Sangiovese; the warmth of this Shoreham vineyard with rich volcanic soil and meticulously management make each of her big lumpy bunches, graceful and ripe. Every Autumn the five rows of Sangiovese are inspected with secateurs in hand to snip off green or crushed berries so only perfect bunches reach the winery. 100 Hunts at Merricks North is a 30-year-old vineyard located on the edge of the Moorooduc Plains. It’s a warm site, the vines are managed with great insight by their owners Joe & Amanda Vaughan. The yields are restricted to bring the harvest date forward. Musk Creek Pinot Noir is a very cool however North facing site; the grapes are intensely aromatic, rather than deep or tannic thus perfect component for Rageous.