2021 Local Weirdos Turbulent Juice (1500ml)

VARIETAL: Semillon
REGION: Swan Valley, WA
VITICULTURE: Organic
WINEMAKER: Sam, Dave, Larry, Charles & Matthew

BIG BOTTLE

An intense tropical nose, all pineapple, mango and orange, likened by one trusted friend to a Golden Circle fruit box, came, intriguingly, from the mildew-affected portion. The acid line, tropical fruit and more restrained and attractive chalky phenolics were from the cleaner portion. Combined they create a skin macerated orange wine with approachability and edge in equal measure. A very different representation of the Turbulent Juice compared to the 2020, but equally worthy.

Macerated on skins for 10 days, the ferment getting warm but not overly so (topping out around 31C). Pressed separately to stainless steel and glass demijohns for élevage over the next 8 months, the expectation was that the cleaner portion would make up the entirety of the Turbulent Juice and the other component would be declassified due to the astringency of the phenolics resulting from the mildew infection. When it came time to put together blends for bottling, however, the wine which included all separate portions of Semillon appeared more complete. The wine was then racked and bottled soon after with no fining, filtration or additions of any kind.

Local Weirdos is a collective of mates who are championing the revival of the Swan Valley. They lease a vineyard named Gino's Block, keeping it dry grown, converting to organics and improving soil health and fruit quality.