In spring 1998, Michel Chapoutier and Ron Laughton planted new vineyards on the Cambrian soils of Heathcote in Central Victoria under the biodynamic philosophy. Both were excited about the use of original Syrah cuttings taken from the hillside of Tain l’Hermitage in the Northern Rhone.
The source vineyard in Hermitage was one of the few that survived phylloxera in the early 1900’s, making the donor vines 80-100 years old.
Quarantined in Australia and then propagated without the use of rootstock, the vines were planted alongside « Australian » Shiraz to produce a « best of both worlds » vineyard : La Pleiade.
La Pleiade [Play-ahd] named after the star cluster visible from Australia and France to celebrate our global friendship in wine. Choice of quality more than quantity, there are only about 500 cases of this brilliant cuvee.
http://www.mchapoutieraustralia.com/content/jasper-hill-chapoutier-0
