Bundalong Coonawarra

James Porter has owned the Bundalong property for many years. In the 2nd half of the '80s, encouraged by an old shallow limestone quarry on the property, he sought opinions about the suitability of the soil for grapegrowing. In ’89 the first plantings of cabernet sauvignon were made, followed by shiraz. The primary purpose of the 65ha vineyard was to supply grapes to major companies. Trial vintages were made in ’94 and ’96, followed by the first serious vintage in '08. The strategy has been only to make wine in the very best vintages in Coonawarra. -JAMES HALLIDAY