Acclaimed as one of Australia’s finest Cabernets since Joe Grilli of Primo Estate released the first vintage in 1987, the JOSEPH Moda is a Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot made from air-dried grapes in  the ‘Moda’ (method) of the Italian Amarone wines.  TASTING NOTE  Intense bouquet of concentrated blackcurrant fruit intermingled with characteristic raisin and cigar box notes. Mouth filling palate of rich, lush blueberry wrapped in fine dark cocoa. The palate is silky, poised and just goes on and on, to a gentle finish with lingering cedar oak.   VINEYARD REGIONS   Fruit from cooler McLaren Vale sub-regions is balanced against the rich brooding red berry character of grapes from our warmer McMurtrie Road Vineyard on the valley floor.   VINTAGE CONDITIONS   The 2023 harvest was remarkably late due to a cooler season preceded by strong rainfall.  Yields were lower than previous years, but the extended ripening period gave great fruit quality.  WINEMAKING  Using the Italian ‘Moda Amarone’, whole bunches were dried for one week in open racks under the Cellar Door carport to concentrate the flavours. The partially dried fruit was then crushed into traditional open-topped fermenters with manual pump-over. Open-topped fermentation is at the heart of the JOSEPH red wine style.   Harvest April 2023 Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Oak 18 months in a combination of new and aged French and American barriques Alcohol 14.5% Winemakers Joe Grilli & Tom Garrett Peak drinking Will reward 10-15 years of cellaring.  Food Guinea fowl or game.