2021 Billy Button Flame Robin Aglianico

Silver Xenica and Flame Robin are two additions to the Billy Button range, with the inaugural release from 2017 vintage. It was one of the best vintages in the Alpine Valleys in over 20 years with ample spring rainfall, good flowering and fruit set and a long mild ripening period. Flavour development was ahead of sugar accumulation which is a rare thing in Australia in modern times. The overall quality of the vintage was outstanding, but Jo had 2 parcels, a red and a white, that she was so enamoured with she couldn't bear the thought of blending them. Instead, a new range was born, not a 'reserve' range as such, which traditional denotes the 'best quality' parcels but quite simply Jo's favourite parcel of white and red from the vintage - be they stunning quality or just too unique to blend away. The white is named Silver Xenica after the butterfly that is endemic to the Mt Buffalo plateau and the red is named Flame Robin after the brightly coloured birds that make a home in the mountains of the Alpine Valleys.

This year’s Flame Robin is a tiny batch (two barriques) of Aglianico sourced from Mark Walpole’s vineyard, Aquila Audax.

Say 'al-ee-yan-ee-co'

Drink now - 2032

Production Notes

Crushed and destemmed directly to small open top fermenters and inoculated with selected yeast.  Ferments were hand plunged twice daily until primary ferment was complete and were then held on skins for a further month before pressing.  Matured in old French oak, until blending and crossflow filtration.  Bottled November 2022.

Tasting Notes

Extremely perfumed, lifted red fruits interlaced with attractive florals and savoury elements of tobacco.  Beautifully aged and showing nice maturation with soft, finely grained tannins.

Optimal Drinking – now (we’ve done the aging for you!)

Technical Details

Reviews

SILVER medal winner at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS)