2022 Billy Button ‘The Mysterious’ Malvasia
Malvasia originates from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of North East Italy. Jo was given access to this variety for the first time in 2015 and jumped at the chance to try her hand at making another relatively unknown alternative variety. Without knowing a lot about the variety, she kept winemaking to a minimum to allow the variety to full express itself. This is her sixth time making the variety and it is still a bit of a mystery to her - it does not tell her what it wants to be as loudly as other varieties. Sourced from the Mulcahy Vineyard at Porepunkah.
Say 'mal-vah-see-ah'
Production Notes
The fruit was picked relatively low baume while it still had freshness and crisp acid structure. The fruit was machine harvested in the second half of March and pressed to stainless steel. The juice was cold settled with enzyme, and split into two batches, one in stainless steel, which was inoculated with a selected yeast strain. The second into a flexcube, which was allowed spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeast. Both parcels were sulphured on completion of primary ferment and left on full yeast solids for a further 6 months with occasional battonage prior to clarification and bottling in November 2022.
Tasting Note
Bright straw in colour, with aromas of red apple and attractive sweet florals alluding to freesias. Radiant and airy, with a nose tingling freshness. The palate is plentiful with peach, apple and pear immersed in layers of texture and has a distinct mouth coating waxiness that lingers.
Optimal Drinking Window – 2022-2028
Reviews
"This is always such an interesting wine. It deserves to be a darling of the wine bar/by-the-glass circuit. It’s floral, earthen, meaty, fruity and saline at once, with honey and musk notes for afters. It’s all going on and yet it’s cohesive. One sip and you want to know – and taste – more. It’s also delicious, if you were wondering." Rated : 92 Points, Tasted : Oct25, The Winefront - Campbell Mattinson
"Alludes softly to the sweet, floral notes that often come to the fore when malvasia is made into a sweet wine. This arrives dry and fresh with the promise of delicate florals and plenty of flavour. Jasmine, citrus blossom, peach, apple, pear and a touch of honey come together on a smooth, textural palate. A citrus skin tang to close is a nice way to finish." Awarded 90 points, Halliday Wine Companion, Jeni Port - Published 29 July 2023