Parawa Estate Grand Reserve Ingalalla Southern Fleurieu 2007

The Parawa Estate Ingalalla is a wine produced from the finest clones from classic grape varieties.

Bordeaux blend; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot. Four years in new and seasoned French oak.

This wine is a what is referred to by wine experts as a “classic Bordeaux blend” featuring the varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It was aged for four years in new and seasoned Alliers and Vosges French oak from five different coopers. In all, sixteen of the finest clones were used to make this wine, making it one of the most interesting and complex combinations available of this style. It involves our philosophy of producing the maximum expression of varietal fruit character, from premium terroir, with expert winemaking skill.

Ingalalla is named after the waterfall which feeds into the creek that runs by the vineyard, nestled below the picturesque Second Valley pine forest. Parawa is the coldest district in South Australia in summer, and as a result will have vintage variations each year, with Antarctic winds and cloud cover producing mean temperatures colder than in Burgundy, France. Located within the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula wine region, the Estate vineyard lies in the valley below the Parawa hills and as a result avoids the extremes of temperature whilst enjoying the benefits of a long growing season. The Ingalalla is produced entirely from single vineyard, estate grown grapes.

At release the Ingalalla showed a restrained nose, harmonious integrated berry fruit and seamless oak integration; complex and intense with some savoury edges, yet still youthful fruit, with a long, lingering drive-through palate. This wine can easily be aged for twenty-thirty* years or more. A classic wine that is neither totally French nor Australian in style, yet exhibits elements of both – truly confirming the motto “French style, Australian character.”

This is the first and only Ingalalla released in nine years of grape-growing, from 2001 – 2011, reflecting the aim to only produce this wine in exceptional vintages. The next Ingalalla will not be released until 2015.

The 2007 Parawa Ingalalla was entered into Winestate magazine’s blind tasting of Cabernet & Blends (April 2011) where it achieved a higher rating from two Masters of Wine than Chateau Lafite and Mouton Rothschild and was equal with Chateau Latour. (Due to conflict of interest reasons this was not published in Winestate).