The Barramundi brand from Murray-Darling, Australia, is quite quirky and stands for no-nonsense wines. "Don't make life too difficult" is a motto at this winery. The winery is located at the confluence of the Murray and Darling rivers. The name comes from the Aboriginal name for the river bass that lives there. The vineyards are located around Victoria, where the terra rossa soil makes sunny Victoria appear even warmer than it already is. Barramundi was founded in the 1980s and developed its labels in collaboration with artist Ken Done. Since then, the company has grown considerably. Their real success lies in these cool, laid-back hippie labels featuring the Barramundi van. Behind the wheel is the cool Aussie dog Barry, with his sights set on infinity.
Once the grapes are perfectly ripe, harvest begins, followed by cold maceration to extract color and flavor. Fermentation begins at a controlled temperature of 24 degrees Celsius and ends at 20 degrees Celsius. During these ten days, the cap (the skins that float to the surface) is regularly immersed. This enhances the wine's color and flavor. The wine then matures further in stainless steel tanks with brief wood contact.
The result is a delicious ruby-red wine with a fresh aroma of red fruit like cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, along with hints of earth. On the palate, this Barramundi Pinot Noir is soft with velvety tannins. Aromas of berries, violets, rhubarb, and hints of vanilla. A wine that is also delicious slightly chilled in the summer.
