The term Terra rossa means red earth, a rich, free draining soil that is considered by many as the viticultural equivalent of discovering gold. Beneath the strata of red earth at Wrattonbully sits a layer of ancient limestone, a winegrower's dream as it allows free drainage of water, yet ensures vine roots stay close to the surface, putting natural stress on the vine and limiting its vigor and yield. An attractive wine upon release and destined to develop complexity, just perfect alongside crispy skinned pork belly. In sticky sauce of course.

The art of making wine from Merlot requires a careful avoidance of any over extractions of tannin from the fruit and seeds. Smith & Hooper choose to vinify in static fermenters while continually tasting the wine as it evolves. The skins are eventually pressed when the requisite structure and palate weight can be achieved without any distasteful tannin hardness. In pursuit of these soft tannins, Smith & Hooper are judicious in their barrel selection, maturing the finished wine for up to a year in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads and barriques.