2021 Little Frances Ramata

VARIETAL: Pinot Gris
REGION: Benalla, VIC
VITICULTURE: Organic/Sustainable
WINEMAKER: Erin Pooley

‘Ramata’ adj: Copper coloured. Organically grown at Yin Barun Vineyard just outside Benalla in North East Victoria.

Pinot gris fermented on skins with gentle punch-downs. After 7 days the free run was drawn off into a single barrel. It remained there undisturbed, until bottling via gravity in December 2021. No fining, no filtration and minimal sulphur.

When first tasting this barrel post-fermentation, it’s singular resolve left a big impression. So we decided to bottle it as a stand alone wine, one perfect barrel as a symbol of the fleeting rays of light that punctured an otherwise overcast 2021.

A luminous apricot pink hue, which smells like crushed raspberry, orange zest and freshly picked bay leaves. Mouth filling fruit flavours swirl with a gentle almond-like tannin. It’s juicy, generous and will have you reaching for more.

Try it ice-cold for refreshment, or let it come to room temperature and experience the wilder side of pinot gris.

Sydney-born and raised, but making wine in California since 2012, Erin Pooley has now returned home, basing herself in the historic town of Beechworth. Good farming, light-handed winemaking, and occasional extended ageing of whites are her hallmarks. Semillon forms the flagship of her production, having inspired her to get into wine in the first place. She will continue to make wines from Californian vineyards, as well as working with local growers to put her unique life and winemaking experiences to work.