Sly Fox Fortified Arinto

A$40.00

sold out

Rich yellowin colour, tasting of custard apple and quince, with a hint of almond. Ripe nashi pear characters both on the nose and palate.

The variety is noted for it’s ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions. Arinto is one of the few white varieties that can maintain it’s natural acidity during long hot summers resulting in beautifully fresh vibrant wines. Having spent some quality time in Portugal “researching” different varieties and styles, Arinto was a clear stand-out. In addition to the beautiful, fresh, crisp dry-white styles we discovered these amazing fortifieds. Stylistically so different to the traditional very sweet, aged fortitified wines we were accustomed to in Australia. Hence our Sly Fox was born!

Type: Fortified Wine
Variety: 100% Arinto
Appellation: McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2026
Alc: 18.5%

Rich yellowin colour, tasting of custard apple and quince, with a hint of almond. Ripe nashi pear characters both on the nose and palate.

The variety is noted for it’s ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions. Arinto is one of the few white varieties that can maintain it’s natural acidity during long hot summers resulting in beautifully fresh vibrant wines. Having spent some quality time in Portugal “researching” different varieties and styles, Arinto was a clear stand-out. In addition to the beautiful, fresh, crisp dry-white styles we discovered these amazing fortifieds. Stylistically so different to the traditional very sweet, aged fortitified wines we were accustomed to in Australia. Hence our Sly Fox was born!

Type: Fortified Wine
Variety: 100% Arinto
Appellation: McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2026
Alc: 18.5%

Vineyard: Lanark Vineyard
Viticulturalist: Jonathon James Harvey
Working closely with our friends at Chalk Hill Viticulture, we planted Arinto at The Lanark Vineyard at the top of Chapel Hill Road in Blewitt Springs in September 2018. The site was deliberately selected for several reasons. The elevation was important because McLaren Vale can get quite hot during our long summers. Elevated vineyards cool quicker at night time thanks to prevailing sea-breezes from the Gulf of Saint Vincent. Cooler night time temperatures help the vines to recover from hot daytime conditions and ultimately retain fruit flavour and high natural acidity. The aspect is south facing to provide excellent airflow and assist with protecting the vines naturally from fungal disease. Terroir varies considerably from the top of the hill to the bottom. Vines at the top have more exposure, smaller canopies and ultimately riper flavours with less acid. The vines at the bottom are more vigorous, more acid and crop higher. For us, the combination of the two adds more complexity to the final wine. Despite the vine age, the entire block has matured beautifully in a relative short time.
Hand harvested. Open fermented on skins for 7 days. Pressed off skins at 5 baume. Fortified at 3.5 baume. Matured in French oak for 10 months. No added acid, enzymes, fining agents. Minimal SO2 added just prior to bottling.
Download tasting notes