Named as such due to the fact that every year Unico Zelo donate 1% of revenue from the sales of the wine to deforestation projects around the world. The Jungle Jungle is 80% Dolcetto all from the Polish Hill River sub region in the Clare Valley. Brendan and Laura were introduced to this vineyard early on in the Unico Zelo journey. It’s in fact a former Penfolds trial vineyard, planted and owned by Southcorp in the mid 1990’s. The goals at that time were finding sites for the planned ‘white Grange’ which involved planting Chardonnay in various terriors plus a chance to look at ‘very alternate varietals’, I use the word ‘very’ considering it was the end of the 1990’s and varieties such as Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Barbera and Tempranillo were hardly mainstream on the shelves of Australian bottle shops and wine lists. This vineyard was a true trial, with each row being planted specifically to produce approximately 500kg of grapes, both North and South facing plantings and lots of clonal varietal. A playground of expressions, you can see why the Carters jumped at the chance to source fruit from here. In the Mid 2000’s Penfolds sold the site to an independent grower and in 2015 he planted Sangiovese & Fiano which Unico Zelo also purchase for Rose, Truffle Hound and Slate Farm Fiano. Final blend – 80% Dolcetto. Hand picked from vines planted in 1998 which have been dry grown, very low yields. Crushed, Fermented in tank, pressed off of which a small parcel goes into in old puncheons for malolactic fermentation. Blended together with the tank portion for the final bottling along with 10% Nero d’Avola (Adelaide Hills) & 10% Touriga (Langhorne creek). Light filtration. Vegan.
