2021 Clay Pot Wines Pyrrha
“Pyrrha, the red-headed daughter of Pandora, threw stones over her shoulder to create life again after the great deluge.”
Pyrrha is a unique hand crafted wine made using ancient winemaking methods that are still practiced in some parts of Europe today. She also represents a very personal winemaking ‘journey’ of her Winemaker Glenn James. It’s all about letting go!
In Greek mythology, Pyrrha was indeed the red headed daughter of Pandora. In fact, Pyrrha is an ancient Greek word for the colour red, (we have words in English today that reflect this…like pyrotechnics and pyrite).
Pyrrha is Alpine Valleys Saperavi that is fermented in a single terracotta ‘Amphora’. Fermentation occurs using only the ‘indigenous’ yeast from the vineyard’s own terroir. Once fermentation is complete Pyrrha is then sealed up and her precious contents matured on the skins and seeds for around 200 days. All the flavours and many other grape derived compounds produced by the vines each season in the presence of fermentation lees (yeast and malolactic bacteria) are slowly extracted and transformed during this period to produce a complex savoury red wine with long silky tannins.
Pyrrha is then gently basket pressed and it is only at this point that the wine has a small addition of sulphur dioxide to preserve all that has been captured. The wine is then matured on light yeast lees for twelve months in a French puncheon (500L oak barrel).
Bottling occurs after careful racking, without any filtration or the use of fining agents.
Technical Details
Reviews
"Fermented in amphora, nine months on skins, unfiltered. Saperavi is a hard grape to crack, but here, it is not only understood by the makers but elevated into a highly complex, layered red wine of note. Coming from a top vintage doesn't hurt, either. Aromas are packed in dark berries, blue fruits, dark florals, licorice, dried herbs, earth. While bold in ripe fruits, it is the layers of herbs, earth, spice and savoury notes that come into their own, melding beautifully and giving rise to one supremely elegant wine. The grape's usual strapping tannins and high acidity are nicely resolved and provide warm, textural support. Top drinking." Awarded 95 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 20 August 2026