17 acres of vines were originally planted as Syrah in 1996, but were grafted to Pinot Noir in 2014. Unfortunately, the grafting wasn't done so well, so what remains is a lovely blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah, approximately 50% of each.

The fruit was handpicked in early April as a field pick. 80% was gently destemmed as whole berries, the remaining 20% staying as whole bunch for ferment. Twice daily punch downs, the wine was pressed after 8 days, then racked to old French oak for 7 months before being bottled in early December 2022.

Emily Kinsman’s ECK Wines is based out of her small vineyard and winery in central Heathcote, where she organically farms less than half a hectare of shiraz. That modest holding is supported by fruit – shiraz, chardonnay, pinot noir, marsanne, cabernet and riesling – sourced from across Heathcote and Mount Alexander, in the Bendigo region, with a greenfield site in Macedon recently purchased, which will soon be planted to vines. A lawyer by trade, the pull of making something with her hands and a simpler, more connected life captivated Kinsman, and her wines follow that attraction, with a traditional approach, incorporating old, larger format oak and amphora, along with low sulphur additions and no fining or filtration.