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Lethbridge has produced a Nebbiolo from the Malakoff Vineyard in the Pyrenees near Landsborough for 11 consecutive years. This celebrated site—owned and operated by Cameron and Robert John—features a moderate slope first planted in 1997 at 300 metres with a well-sheltered northeast aspect. The soils are rich in red ferrous clay, with large amounts of ironstone and quartz littered throughout.
The farming doctrine at Malakoff mirrors that of Lethbridge, with sustainability and soil health as priorities. Ray and Maree work closely with the Johns each year and are intimately involved in the decisions for their chosen blocks (they work with the same blocks and take 100% of the fruit) to ensure low yields picked at optimal ripeness.
Conditions in 2020 proved ideal for growing good Nebbiolo, with good rainfall early in the piece, followed by a long, mild summer. The fruit macerated for five days before a long, cool ferment kicked off. Including post-fermentation, the total time on skins was 30 days. The wine matured for 24 months in oak, the first year in 500-litre puncheons, and the second in foudre. The wine matured further in bottle for 18 months before release. The name, which translates to ‘birthday present’, dates back to 2013, when Maree sourced two tonnes of Nebbiolo from Robert John as a surprise for Ray’s birthday. It’s a brightly fragrant release, teeming with red fruits and flowers, brown spice with a stony mineral thread pulling through the coiled structure to a lengthy close.