Jauma Tikka the Cosmic Cat 2021

Tikka the Cosmic Cat is named after James Erskine's winery cat. The blend is approximately 85% Shiraz and 15% Grenache, drawn from three distinct sites in McLaren Vale and Clarendon. The Grenache comes from the Lilies vineyard in McLaren Flat, planted in 1943 and grown in sandy soils. The Shiraz is sourced from two blocks: the silty soils of 28 Road in McLaren Vale, picked early and carbonically macerated to preserve aromatic lift and brightness, and the Ralph Wood vineyard in Clarendon, where dry-grown Shiraz is de-stemmed and harvested at full maturity for a denser, darker fruit profile.

The two varieties are co-fermented and spend 40 days on skins through carbonic maceration. The wine then rests 11 months in neutral barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered with no added sulfur dioxide, sealed under crown cap.

The result is a wine that reads darker than most carbonic-macerated reds, with dark raspberry, plum, black pepper, and undertones of earth and wild herbs. Carbonic maceration lifts the aromatics and keeps the body from becoming heavy, while the Clarendon Shiraz adds structure and depth. Serve lightly chilled at around 58-62F.