Description
On the Fringe
Larry believes that the greatest rewards lie in pushing creative winemaking to the limit and letting the vineyard speak for itself. This philosophy is at the heart of our ‘On the Fringe’ range, where a hands-off winemaking approach allows the natural characteristics of Pemberton’s unique Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes to take centre stage. Each bottle is a testament to our belief that creativity lies in embracing the unknown.
The vintage
The 2025 Pemberton vintage benefited from abundant winter rainfall followed by a mild spring and a warm, largely dry growing season. Moderate temperatures through most of ripening allowed fruit to mature evenly, while cool nights preserved acidity and aromatic intensity. Brief periods of warmer weather accelerated harvest, but healthy canopies and excellent vineyard water reserves maintained vine balance and fruit quality. Disease pressure remained exceptionally low, producing clean fruit with excellent flavour concentration. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were particularly impressive for their elegance and precision, while Shiraz displayed bright fruit, fine tannins and excellent natural balance. Overall, the vintage produced wines with purity, freshness and outstanding regional character.
The winemaking
Hand harvested and chilled overnight in a refrigerated container, the whole bunches are pressed for a fairly light extraction of the best freerun juice. This is either taken directly to oak or settled naturally overnight, with the cloudy juice run into a selection of 225, 600 barrels and 1,000 litre foudre, for a natural fermentation. Malolactic is not induced, though the finished wines are assessed after primary fermentation to decide whether a little would improve balance and complexity; the wines are then sulphured or held cold and prepared for bottle after around eight months.
The wine
Boasts a bright and refreshing acidity with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. The nose is filled with aromas of lemon zest, green apple and hints of vanilla which follow through to the palate. On the palate flavours of ripe pear and baked apple are well balanced with subtle oak notes and a touch of minerality. The extended lees contact provides a velvety texture and a lovely nuttiness to the wine. The finish is long and persistent, leaving behind a satisfying and refreshing aftertaste.
