The Wine: Tikka the Cosmic Cat Shiraz Grenache 2020

Tikka is our winery cat. The Grenache comes from the sandy soils of the Lilies vineyard in McLaren Flat, planted 1943. The Shiraz comes from 2 blocks: The silty soils of 28 Rd in McLaren Vale, which we picked early and carbonically macerated to capture lighter, brighter, aromatic tones. The richer parts of the dry grown Shiraz vineyard of Ralph Wood in Clarendon. De-stemmed and picked more mature – giving a supple mouthfeel and darker fruit flavors. (source: Jauma)

The Producer: Jauma

James Erskine

James has a background in cookery, sommelier work and an honors degree in Agricultural science specializing in soil chemistry. 2008 Gourmet Traveller Australian Sommelier of the year, Negociants working with wine fellow 2008, Chief Judge and co-ordinator Adelaide Review Hot 100 wine show 2010-2013. Founding member of Natural Selection Theory.

Mark Warner

Living in Sydney Mark stumbled across Jauma’s preservative-free creations, he reached out and the pair started working together in 2015. With a thirst for knowledge, Mark’s hands-on approach to winemaking is in balance here. He takes just as much from James’s science brain as he does from his hippy-like sentience. It makes for good arguments, better agreements, and healthier booze.

Fiona Wood

Fiona consults Jauma in vineyard management. She trained and worked as a chef but when her father Ralph purchased some superb land on the ironstone ridge of Clarendon, Fiona returned to study viticulture. Fiona together with partner David Swann, run a viticultural consultancy as well as their own vineyards.

The Region: McLaren Vale