Protero Nebbiolo Adelaide Hills 2022
Protero Nebbiolo Adelaide Hills
Region: Adelaide Hills , South Australia, Australia
Vintage: 2022
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Nebbiolo
ABV: 14.5%
On the nose, this wine is highly perfumed and brooding, with deep dark cherry notes, sweet red berries, fresh leather, and faint hints of citrus peel. On the palate, it is vibrant and lively, with flavours of fresh raspberry and plum, flowing into surprising umami notes, and finishing with light citrus and florals. The fine, firm tannins elongate the mid-palate, and lead to a long, elegant finish.
The vineyard is located in Kenton Valley, Peramangk Country. In 1999, Frank and Rosie Baldasso, the original owners of the site, established a 20-hectare vineyard at an elevation of 439 metres. The property's Block 2 features two hectares of Nebbiolo vines on a western-facing slope, planted in grey loam over red clay on granitic bedrock. The vineyard employs particularly tall trellising systems to create an extensive canopy that ensures optimal ripening conditions for premium fruit quality.
The grapes were gently de-stemmed and left to soak in open-top fermenters for 48 hours before fermentation began. The wine remained on skins for 27 days with daily pump-overs, then was gently pressed and settled in tank for three weeks. Following settling, the wine was transferred to an old French oak vat, two old French oak puncheons, and one old Hungarian puncheon for malolactic fermentation and four months of maturation. The wine underwent a further seven months of maturation in various puncheons after malolactic conversion, before being moved to large oak vats for a final seven months of maturation. It was bottled in mid-January 2024 without fining or filtration.
Protero tells a fascinating story of survival in the face of adversity. Stephen and Fiona Pannell purchased the ‘Protero’ vineyard in the Adelaide Hills in late 2019. Within days, it was surrounded by the second major bushfire of this century. Thanks to the courage of those who fearlessly defended it, the vineyard survived. As Stephen says, “we are moved by the bravery behind the history of this vineyard. Our own small act of courage is to try and invest in this special place with a new sense of potential.”