About
People: Jasper Hill is a small family business, founded by Ron and Elva Laughton in 1978. They moved to Heathcote in 1980 with their two young daughters Emily and Georgia to build a new life in the country. Ron with a background in Chemistry and Food Technology along with Elva who had been a Milliner, began with their first vintage in 1982. Now with the business in the hands of their daughter Emily and her husband Nick, operations are continued with enthusiasm, maintaining the high levels of quality set out by their forbears.
Vineyards: Situated in Heathcote, central Victoria, one and a half hours north of Melbourne . Two vineyard sites one kilometre apart, Georgia’s Paddock and Emilys Paddock, were planted in 1975. Subsequent plantings of Shiraz in 1987, Nebbiolo Grenache and Viognier in 1991 completed the vineyards. The Viognier was grafted into Fiano in 2014 while sadly the Grenache was burnt out in 2012 and never replaced. Emily’s Paddock faces east while Georgia’s Paddock faces predominately west, both vineyards are unirrigated and yield small quantities of organic fruit. They sit 300m above sea level and are grown in soil of broken down basalt from the Cambrian era, 650 million years old.
Vinification: Fully destemmed and hand sorted, all wines are fermented with natural yeasts without the addition of nutrients or enzymes. Gently pumped or plunged between four and six weeks before a gentle press and racked into French and Austrian oak to mature for 12 months. All wines are cross flow filtered prior to bottling and have minimal sulphur added throughout the winemaking process. Our aim is to showcase the vineyard sites, true to the year they were grown.
Emily’s Paddock: three hectares of Shiraz including around five percent Cabernet Franc, yielding about two tonnes per hectare (14hL per hectare). Planted in 1975/76.
Georgia’s Paddock: twelve hectares of Shiraz yielding about three tonnes per hectare (20hL per hectare). Three hectares of Riesling giving about three tonnes per hectare (20 hL per hectare). Both of these varieties were planted in 1975/76 with further small plantings completed after the vineyard was ravaged by bushfire in 1987. One hectare each of similarly low yielding Semillon planted in 1992, Nebbiolo planted in 1993, and Viognier planted in 2001.
Cornella Vineyard: four hectares of Grenache planted in 1998 with yields of around three tonnes per hectare (20hL per hectare). Unfortunately this vineyard was burnt out by a bushfire in 2013 and was never replanted.
All vineyards are planted on their own roots, to retain purity of style, rather than grafted on to Phylloxera-resistant American non-vinifera root stock.
The vines have a sunny, open, balanced canopy that keeps fungal diseases at bay and eliminates the need for summer pruning, leaf plucking and crop reduction. All picking and pruning is carried out by hand.
All vineyards are unirrigated and rely on natural rainfall only.
Both Emily’s and Georgia’s Paddocks are on elevated hillsides at an altitude of 320 metres (1000 feet) and are approximately 1 km apart. Emily’s Paddock has a NE aspect and shallower soil, while Georgia’s Paddock has a NW aspect and the classic deep soil.
2024 Spring Release
‘Being vignerons we are subject to the increasingly unpredictable whims of nature. The growing season leading into vintage 2023 posed many challenges with heavy storms at regular intervals. Rain is a mixed blessing for our dry grown vineyards; too little stresses our vines, while too much complicates vineyard maintenance. Over the season, Nick diligently monitored major downpours and soil moisture levels to minimise tractor impact on our delicate soils. High disease pressure made timely spraying of organic copper and sulphur crucial to protect new growth from mildew. Our decision to harvest early yielded beautiful clean fruit, resulting in wonderfully bright wines with generous acidity. These wines will be enjoyable young but also have the potential for long term cellaring should you choose.
For us, happiness is a full winery and vintage 2023 was generous. We had an abundance of aromatic tanks, brimming with wine. Grapes happily fermented with their natural yeasts and overall this vintage was noticeably busy, which makes for a very enjoyable experience. Our Emily’s Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc, which is always hand picked in one day, has produced some outstanding complexity and was a joy to watch come together during the 12 months in French oak barriques. The Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz, hand picked over multiple days, offers ample fruit and a velvety touch typical for the vineyard site. The 2024 harvest shared similar climatic conditions to those in 2023, and with a bounty of Riesling and Fiano, we have two energetic white wines to include in this release.’ – Emily McNally
2023 Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz
Reminiscent of our wines in the early years, a true Georgia’s Paddock style of raspberry with red earth notes and soft integrated tannins. While this vintage initially appears a little closed, given a few minutes, opens up to a brilliant red fruit and spicy nose. Juicy strawberries and fresh raspberry fill a generous palate with great length. Delicious now but easily cellared for those with patience. High grade cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol
2023 Emily’s Paddock Shiraz/Cab Franc
Full bodied, yet very approachable, Emily’s keeps on giving. Brilliant magenta in colour, this wine will stain. Intense dark fruits of cherry, raspberry and plum, followed through with a hint of mint and dark chocolate. Structured chalky tannins and balanced natural acidity allows this wine to be cellared. High grade cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol
2023 Georgia’s Paddock Nebbiolo
Superbly aromatic with wonderful perfume of roses, rhubarb, plums and anise spice. Tannins galore on the palate with up front plums, cherry and vanilla bean followed by chary oak and leather. Enjoyable now but cellar this wine to enjoy its full potential. High grade cork sealed, 14.5% alcohol
2024 Georgia’s Paddock Riesling
Brilliant yellow colour with the usual aromatic citrus notes. Occasional lees stirring during fermentation gives a weighted riesling with a long finish. Think lemon in all its form, juice, zest and pith. Underlining limes and slight peachy fruit characters, finishing with a hint of viscosity. A wine to drink now but the natural zingy acidity gives this wine long lasting potential. Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol
2023 Occam’s Razor Shiraz
Grapes from Colbinabbin, mid-north of the Heathcote region, blended together with a smaller parcel from near Lake Eppalock. Harvested early to capture a great fresh feel. Crimson colour, savoury nose with a bouquet of spices and an underlying plum and raspberry palate, soft integrated tannins finishes this wine. A Shiraz made to be enjoyed now. High grade cork sealed, 15.0% alcohol
2024 Lo Stesso Fiano
A blend of 50% estate grown fruit and 50% purchased regional fruit, fermented in a combination of new French oak and stainless steel. Pale yellow colour. Subtle fruit aromas and a palate of pear, citrus and honey, finishing with waxy hazelnut and spice. Over time this luscious wine develops quince and baked apple flavours with enough natural acid to balance the viscous, textured mouthfeel. Ready to enjoy now. Screw-cap sealed, 13.5% alcohol
(Image: Jasper Hill / www.jasperhill.com.au)