2022 Village Releases

2022 Village Blanc

A continuation of our love for Sauvignon Blanc from our region whilst paying homage to those of Sancerre. Barrel fermented and picked ripe but with that linear acidity you get from the cool sites and the season.

Vineyards: Summertown, Ashton, Morialta
Vine age: 16 - 22 years
Clones: Unknown
Elevation: 500 - 620 metres
Aspect: North
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble.
Vinification: 100% whole cluster pressed and settled in tank overnight. Racked to neutral French barriques and hogsheads for eight months.

Alc 13.5% / pH 3.17 / TA 6.8 g/L / Production 675 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 30 March 2023

"From three villages, or parishes, Summertown, Ashton and Morialta. It’s sauvignon blanc but I had to work that out using the clonal information (F4V6) as nothing else on web or bottle tells you otherwise, good work Gareth. Matured in older barrels.

Sheer pleasure, what a delight this is. Savoury edges in juicy green mango and preserved lemon characters with licks and whiffs of halva and sea spray. The palate more saline and briny but with this light creaminess, extra length, vibrant fruit character and a general sense of ultra drinkability. An ultra clean feel. Charming wine from hello and a touch of class in its make up and disposition. Really lovely."

94 Points

2022 Village Riesling

Our love for off-dry German Riesling has meant giving the style a go. A nice hint of sugar balances out the acidity, a textural mouthfeel completes the wine. It's yum, drink it cold and you wonder why you don't pay more attention to these styles.

Vineyards: Scary Gully
Vine age: 10 years
Clones: GM198
Elevation: 620 metres
Aspect: South-east
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble.
Vinification: 100% whole cluster pressed and settled in tank overnight. Fermented and rested in terracotta eggs for eight months.
Alc 10.5% / pH 3.0 / TA 7.1g/L / RS 25g/L / Prod 167 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 30 March 2023

"From Scary Gully, organically farmed by the Gentle Folk crew. Impressive wines across the board and superstar written in as a byword. Off dry style here and matured in terracotta egg vessels.

Oof. Yes. Lush and bright, lime zest and pink grapefruit with mandarin and licks of faint wild honey. It’s oh so fragrant and fresh feeling, a lovely slickness to texture and a fine crunch to finish long after each sip. Very well balanced, very well judged in fruit, sweetness and acid tang. It feels so gulpable and dangerously drinkable, with nods in the direction of best off-drys going around generally. Goodness."

94 Points

2022 Village Chardonnay

A blend of predominantly estate fruit, this is beautifully refined and complex Adelaide Hills Chardonnay that balances acidity and ripe fruit from a cool and late growing season.

Vineyard: Scary Gully (25%), Piccadilly (25%), Ashton (10%), Murdoch hill (Oakbank 40%)
Vine age: 22-38 years
Clones: Entav84, Iiovi, 95, 96
Elevation: 350-620 metres
Aspect: South (Scary Gully), north-west (Piccadilly), north (Ashton), north (Murdoch Hill)
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble.
Vinification: 100% whole cluster pressed and settled in tank overnight. Racked to a mixture of French and Austrian barriques, puncheons and foudres for nine months, 10% new.

Alc 13.0% / pH 3.4 / TA 5.6 g/L / Production 539 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 30 March 2023

"If you take in a group of some of the more impressive, younger generation winemakers of Australia and whisper the words ‘avant garde’ alongside ‘the future’ and ‘premium wine’ then Gentle Folk is in that place. Serious uplift in viticulture, considered winemaking (almost an agonising approach) and fine wines that emerge from Gentle Folk. Hats off. If you’re not onto GF, you should be.

A clutter of nuttiness, lemon verbena, grapefruit pith and green apple in flavours. Soft and juicy but with this powdery feel and freshness is writ so very large. It feels fancy but also footloose, fun, bright, a depth and interest in tow. Hard to peg down as it’s such a good party but one where everyone is smart and cool and interesting. I love wines like this, marching to their own beat but delivering refreshment factor and a reason to stare into your glass a while. Yes please."

94 Points

2022 Village Grenache

Our second year making Grenache from this insane old bush vine vineyard on the sands of Blewitt Springs. Raspberry and redcurrants on the nose and in the mouth it has those subtle and silky tannins we all love in Grenache.

Vineyards: Brini (Blewitt Springs)
Vine age: 81 years
Clones: Unkown
Elevation: 200 metres
Aspect: South-east
Soils: Sand
Vinification: 20% whole cluster open-top fermentation for 21 days before being pressed and put to French oak barriques and puncheons - all neutral - for eight months.

Alc 14.0% / pH 3.24 / TA 6.0 g/L / Production 383 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 4 April 2023

"A departure from Adelaide Hills here. Blewitt Springs. Grenache heartland.

Yummy stuff but a fuller and plusher expression. More neck oil than cerebral. Warm, forest berry compote, sweet spices and soft tannin is the go. Feels rich and round, a little formless but enjoyable in its melange of ripe fruit and spice. Breathy-warm finish not for me but for some a welcome fullness. Monochromatic but beautifully made. Blood orange lift helps elevate the wine. If generosity and grenache is your game, then this works a treat."

90 Points

2022 Village Pinot Noir

A blend of all our estate vineyards, the 2022 Pinot Noir is a bit more complex and brooding than previous years but still has that fruitfulness and youthful tannins and acidity we have come to expect from our fruit.

Vineyard: Monomeith (10%), Little Creek (30%), Piccadilly (30%), Scary Gully (30%)
Vine age: 22-35 years
Clones: MV6, D5V12, Pommard, 114, 115, 777, Martini
Elevation: 520-620m
Aspect: East-west (Monomeith), south + north (Little Creek), south (Piccadilly), south-east + south-west (Scary Gully)
Soils: Light loamy clay over sandstone with extensive schist and quartz rubble
Vinification: Mostly 20% whole cluster open-top fermentation for three weeks, but the blend includes some shorter macerated 100% whole bunch ferment barrels. Eight months in French oak barriques and puncheons, 10% new.

Alc 13.0% / pH 3.6 / TA 5.4 g/L / Production 633 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 4 April 2023

"There is so much joy in these Village wine new releases. Gareth Belton and family and cohorts really get that matrix of fine wine and drinkability. Champion wines.

Such a fresh and vibrant expression but even, elegant and svelte too. A pure and controlled expression of pinot noir that does fragrance, bright and distinct cherry-red berry fruit, gentle spice and pretty meadow herb and floral notes so well. It’s cool and even, tightens on gentle tannins, has depth but length and vim. Its such a delightful, everyperson pinot really. Joyous stuff that should be tried by all pinot enthusiasts."

93 Points

2022 Village Sangiovese

Sangiovese! The great Italian varietal has been a staple in our house for many years and being able to make it in our own style is truly a blessing; gorgeous red perfume and those fine dusty tannins. As good as a table wine can get we reckon.

Vineyard: Turnbull (Charleston)
Vine age: 24 years
Clones: H6V9
Elevation: 460 metres
Aspect: North
Soils: Sandy loam over siltstone and sandstone
Vinification: 100% destemmed and open-top fermented for three weeks before closing tank and leaving on skins for an extra three weeks. Pressed to tank overnight before spending eight months in 2500 litre fourdre.

Alc 14.5% / pH 3.4 / TA 5.7 g/L / Production 344 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 3 April 2023

"It’s a plusher, warmer expression that misses some tension and tannin in its wake, but in that delivers a soft and moreish red of riper red berry fruit and creamy nuttiness with exotic spice in tow. Scents and flavours match well, the gist is red cherry, just ripe raspberry, cinnamon, liquorice, salt bush, as such. The finish has a good crispness and vitality, a gentle pucker too. Lovely drinking, easy drinking, lots of charm."

92 Points

2022 Village Syrah

We are lucky to purchase Shiraz from some of the best sites in the Hills, grown by friends with passion for their land. A long cool season allowed perfect ripeness with all the cool climate traits of pepper and perfume, this is some serious wine.

Vineyards: Turnbull (Charleston 70%), Murdoch Hill (Oakbank 30%)
Vine age: 3-23 years
Clones: 1125, 1654, 470, SARDI 7, BVRC12, 2626
Elevation: 360-460m
Aspect: North
Soils: Sandy loam over red-orange clay and sandstone
Vinification: 100% whole bunch fermentation for five weeks before being pressed to French oak barriques and puncheons for eight months, 25% new

Alc 13.3% / pH 3.9 / TA 5.0 g/L / Production 240 dozen

(Image: Gareth Belton - Gentle Folk Wines)