One of the most important wineries in McLaren Vale, d'Arenberg, was founded in 1912 when Joseph Osborn sold his stable of prize-winning horses to purchase the property that now houses the winery. His dream came true, and Joseph's son, Frank, joined him on the land, and they began acquiring more vineyards. Joseph Osborn died in 1921, leaving full control of the business to Frank. In the early years, grapes were sold to other wineries before the winery was built in 1927. The winery has been passed down through generations and has grown enormously over the years. They make distinctive wines using traditional methods, both in the vineyard and in the winery. Footbolt was the pride of Joseph's stable, so he decided to name this wine after his pride. A soft wine with lush aromas.
Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. Footing occurs two-thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket-pressed and transferred to a mix of new and used French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there is no racking until final blending. This wine undergoes no fining or filtration prior to bottling.
The result is a lofty, aromatic nose with lush aromas of plums and red berries. The palate is soft and finishes with firm tannins and acidity. There are flavors of mulberry, pomegranate, dried herbs, and earth, with a finish that is slightly wild and rustic.
