Summary: Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and South Australian winemaker Corey Ryan created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Cabernet Sauvignon attempts the ultimate challenge of achieving both true varietal Cabernet character and approachability.

Winemaking: The fruit is partially hand-harvested before de-stemming and cool fermentation in small two tonne open fermenters with regular hand plunging. Matured in seasoned French oak (20% new French) for six months before bottling with minimal filtration and sulphur addition. 

Vintage 2021: An exceptional vintage with ideal growing conditions and outstanding quality fruit! A later start to the vintage due to a mild summer facilitating a longer ripening period and a lovely balance in red wines. Dry conditions through summer resulted in small berries and thick skins in reds. Intense aromatics and bold flavours are a characteristic of the 2021 Coonawarra vintage.

Tasting Note: Superb dense colour and a fragrant, aromatic nose that personifies Coonawarra. Loads of complexing characters with black fruits graphite and vital spicy, oak. The palate is medium to full bodied and almost claret like with its grippy but integrated tannins ensuring a long finish. Drinking well now, it will also reward with short term cellaring. Perfect with lamb dishes.

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Bottle Barcode: 9344154011545

Carton Barcode: 9344154011552

Take It To The Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Note 2021

Take It To The Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Bottle Image

Summary: Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and wine grower Jim Zerella created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Pinot Grigio explores the secrets of high altitude viticulture. 

Winemaking: Sourced from premium Adelaide Hills vineyards, fruit for this Pinot Grigio was hand harvested in the early morning to protect fruit aromatics and retain natural acidity. Once in the winery the fruit was whole bunched pressed, aiming to limit skin contact and using only free run and first press juice. Fermented in stainless steel with temperature control before maturation on lees for six months to build texture and complexity.

2023 Vintage: The winter and spring prior to the 2023 vintage was generally a little wetter and cooler than what is usual, delaying the start of vintage and meaning some extra care was required through the growing period. Whilst the vintage was indeed later than usual, there were some really beautiful parcels of fruit that benefited from being grown in sites where the slower ripening simply enabled flavour ripeness to be achieved with character & balance.

Tasting Note: This Pinot Grigio is light straw in colour with a pale hue. The lifted aromas are characterised by citrus, green pear and citrus blossom. This is a mouth-filling wine with the palate exhibiting pear, white stone fruit and very subtle fresh cut herbs. The freshness of the acidity drives a very long palate weight and ensures it finishes crisp and fresh. Perfect with fresh seafood, chicken and pork dishes.

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Bottle Barcode: 9344154011026

Carton Barcode: 9344154011033

Take it to the Grave Pinot Grigio Tasting Note 2023

Take it to the Grave Pinot Grigio Bottle Image

Summary: Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and South Australian wine grower Jim Zerella created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Pinot Noir takes on one of the wine world’s most entrenched rules – that it is impossible to make high quality, varietally expressive but affordable Pinot Noir. 

Winemaking: Sourced from a number of vineyards within the Adelaide Hills across a number of micro climates – providing a good blend of expressive fruit, structure and high note aromatics. Primarily machine picked before vinification in a combination of small and large open fermenters. The majority of the blend is matured in stainless steel with a component aged in new and one year old French oak.

Vintage 2021: The first of the consecutive La Nina seasons brought much welcomed rain over the winter and spring months, filling up dehydrated soil profiles after consecutive years of drought. The season continued in providing a mild spring and summer. The cooler than average weather during harvest resulted in a longer ripening period which facilitated fragrant and elegant fruits in red wines and a seamless acid and tannin balance.

Tasting Note: Medium in colour with that atypical Pinot Noir nose of strawberries, dark plums and cherries with a savoury edge. The palate is rich and sumpuous with smooth cherry and vibrant red berried fruit. It presents a beautifully lush mouthfeel complemented by fine tannins and soft acidity that provide structure and length. Pair with baked mushroom and paremesan.

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Bottle Barcode: 9344154010678

Carton Barcode: 9344154010685

Take it to the Grave Pinot Noir Tasting Note 2021

Take it to the Grave Pinot Noir Bottle Image

Summary: Take it to the Grave was created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Rose displays the insight and attention to detail required to seize exactly the right moment to create pale and dry Rose. 

Winemaking: Sourced from a number of established vineyards on the eastern slopes of the Barossa Valley, primarily in the light pass sub-district. Completely de-stemmed with a short maceration (a few hours) sufficient to impart colour and texture. Following a soft pressing, the juice is given a cool fermentation in stainless steel and allowed to ferment close to dry. Maturation on lees in stainless steel adds texture and malolactic fermentation is prevented to ensure vibrancy. 

Vintage 2022: 2022 will probably be remembered as wet in most parts of Australia. However, in inland vineyards the rain did not hinder, rather it helped vines stay healthy and created favourable conditions for a modest and favourable crop across much of the country. Overall, quality was up but yields were down.   

Tasting Note: Blushing pale in colour with salmon hues. On the nose, there’s vibrant strawberry and other red fruits as well as notes of vanilla and rose petal florals. The palate is light and very fresh but packed full of flavour with the brisk and crunchy acidity driving an exceptionally long yet dry finish. A great partner to spicy food. Serve chilled. 

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Bottle Barcode: 9344154010753

Carton Barcode: 9344154010760

Take it to the Grave Rose Tasting Note 2022

Take it to the Grave Rose Bottle Image

Summary: Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and South Australian winemaker Corey Ryan created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Shiraz takes on the mysteries and individual personalities of old-vine vineyards.  

Winemaking: The fruit is partially hand-harvested before de-stemming and cool fermentation in small two tonne open fermenters with regular hand plunging. Matured inF seasoned French oak (20% new French) for six months before bottling with minimal filtration and Sulphur addition. 

2023 Vintage: Spring was cooler than usual and with more rain events bringing soil moisture levels up. Summer likewise was cool yet with enough sunny days to enable beautiful albeit slower ripening. This made for a later vintage than prior years, but the resultant fruit quality is very, very good.  

Tasting Note: In the glass it’s coloured purple with a dense and dark body. A full-bodied and very aromatic Shiraz showing purple berry fruits, dark chocolate and integrated spices. The palate shows good weight and evenness whilst the fine tannins and integrated acidity drive persistence on the long finish. Perfect with roast lamb and a rich, creamy potato gratin. 

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Bottle Barcode: 9344154010777

Carton Barcode: 9344154010784

Take it to the Grave Shiraz Tasting Note 2023

Take it to the Grave Shiraz Bottle Image

Summary: Take it to the Grave is a joint venture between Nicholas Crampton and South Australian winemaker Corey Ryan created to deliver interesting and rewarding wines whilst challenging a few established rules and preconceptions. The Take it to the Grave Shiraz takes on the mysteries and individual personalities of old-vine vineyards. 

Vineyards: Sourced from a selection of mature, dry-grown vineyards in Langhorne Creek managed by Jim Zerella delivering intensity, length and structure.

Winemaking: The fruit is partially hand-harvested before de-stemming and cool fermentation in small two tonne open fermenters with regular hand plunging. Matured in seasoned French oak (20% new French) for six months before bottling with minimal filtration and sulphur addition. 

2020 Vintage: 2020 had its challenges with a dry start and only a small portion of rain and with much of the country suffering drought conditions. The warm dry spell continued in December with some extreme hot temperature days recorded. It was a late ripening year and yields were down but despite the challenges it will be another excellent vintage across South Australia.

Tasting Note: In the glass it’s coloured purple with a dense and dark body. A generous and very aromatic Shiraz showing purple berry fruits, dark chocolate and integrated spices. The palate shows ample weight and evenness whilst the fine tannins and integrated acidity drive persistence on the long finish. Perfect with roast lamb and a rich,creamy potato gratin.

The below information is available for stockists of this product.

Can Barcode: 9344154011989

4pk Wrap Barcode: 9344154012115

Carton Barcode: 9344154011996

Take it to the Grave Shiraz CAN Tasting Note

Take it to the Grave Shiraz CAN Image