The finest parcels of Rutherglan Durif are harvested and crushed into open fermenters. The small berries yield a great concentration of flavours with high alcohol, dark colour and soft tannins, making a style of wine that's renowned for structure and longevity. Vinification is controlled, initially at cooler temperatures to maintain fresh varietal fruit characters, gradually rising to warmer temperatures, for optimal extractions of good colour and fine tannins. After several days of open ferments, batches are pressed into an equal balance of seasoned and new, American and French oak hogsheads for completion of malolactic and two years maturation before the final assemblage.