Commune of Buttons ‘Northern Lights’ Red 2020

Location: Australia, Adelaide Hills

Winemaker: Sophie & Jasper Button

Grapes: Grenache, Cinsault, Mataro (Monastrell), with juice made from Bonvedro

Winemaking: Parcels of Grenache, Cinsault and Mataro were co-fermented with Bonvedro Juice over the top. The ferment was 20% whole bunches of grenache and cinsault. Gentle cool maceration of the grapes took place over three weeks and the wine was aged on fine lees for 11 months in fibreglass tank.

From the Producers: ‘Northern Lights’ is a new cuvee composed on parcels from the heritage Vine Vale Vineyard of Wayne Ahrens and Suzi Hilder of Small Fry Wines. The Vine Vale vineyard consists of several very old selections from a time when the Barossa was mainly producing fortified wines. Some of the vines are from the original plantings in the Barossa and are over 100 years old.

This wine is light on its feet with fine tannins and acidity yet there is a sappiness of ripe Mataro and Grenache that brings depth and complexity. Ultimately red fruits and a very easy drinking and unexpected wine!

From us at M&L: Brother and sister Sophie and Jasper Button are second-generation winegrowers, rescuing 3.5 hectares of vines which their mother planted in Basket Range in the Adelaide Hills. For years, families that owned vineyards here have all helped each other during planting, tending, and harvest seasons; Sophie and Jasper were inspired by this ‘commune’ of wine, a vision of nature and humanity coexisting and each benefiting the other. They’ve been practicing organic/biodynamic since 2012, focusing on the health of the soil and the interrelationship between the cycles of the seasons, moon, rain and sun, maintaining the ultimate balance that must be held to yield expressive wines.