The McLaren Vale region is strongly maritime influenced, with considerable variation in climate between the hill slopes and the sea. The hills produce favorable seasonal rains while the coast brings ripening sunshine softened by cooling breezes.

Tintara fruit is 100% McLaren Vale and includes only the absolute best lots from both estate-owned and contracted vineyards. The vineyards age to 70 years and these provide the dense character and powerful dark fruit aromas found in Tintara.

The fruit for this wine was destemmed and crushed into 4 and 7-ton open-top fermenters. The wine was tasted 3 times daily and the fermentation temperature and extraction regime adjusted at each tasting to maximize flavor extraction, keeping tannin in balance with the fruit intensity. When the tannin and fruit balance were extracted to the desired level, the wines were basket pressed to tank. After settling for 24 hours, the wine was racked into French oak barrels.

The 2002 vintage is ripe and juicy in flavor with currants, black fruits and a rich palate of leather, earth and spice, giving way to a long and balanced finish.