One Man Band by Iona, the history and philosophy behind this red blends as related by Suzy Gunn
When Andrew Gunn and Rozy married in 2003 they kept
both their farms – Andrew's was high on a mountain top with cool sea
breezes and Rozy's was nestled in a valley full of interesting slopes.
They believed they now had the potential of two very
different worlds in Elgin. It is from these significantly diverse
micro-climates that the red varietals for the OMB are procured. Iona's
breath taking and chilly perch provides the structure and bright purity of
red berry fruit, while the valley farm yields grapes that are twice ripened
by the warmer climate and the additional light and warmth which is
reflected off the white quartz, which makes up much of the soil profile on
these rocky slopes. It is from these vineyards that we get our brooding
intensity, weight and colour.
The vineyards which produce the OMB have over the last
6 years, been the primary focus of our efforts to move into organic
farming. No synthetic fertilizers, no snail pellets (we use ducks), no
insecticides (each vine stem is individually wrapped with a
"skirt" made of very fluffy fibrous material which inhibits the
crawling snout beetle from reaching the leaf and bunch zone) and no
systemic fungicides (we use organically registered sulphur and some copper
in the allowed doses) have been used since 2007.
We are into our second season of Biodynamic
applications. We have three cows, which we use to make our biodynamic
preparations and barrel composts with. We are not fully organic because we
still do a herbicide spray on the vine berm once a year. There is a long
story behind this practice, but let it suffice to say that without this
compromise for now – I cannot be green if I am in the red.
We make all our own compost and make extensive use of
winter cover crops between the rows to flourish, then nourish the
vineyards. We use a mow-and-throw grass cutter to spew these fibrous and
nitrogen rich cover crops onto the vine berm where they serve as nutrition
and mulch. Sometimes we just flatten these crops in situ to nourish and add
humus to the whole vineyard area.
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The mulches prevent dehydration, act as temperature
regulators and provide home to millions of micro-organisms, worms, and
other creatures. The humus content of the soil is also vital as a medium
for the Biodynamic sprays.
My vineyards must be alive. I want to make lively wine.
These combined methods of feeding, mulching and protection are an ongoing
quest to nurture and express the individuality of the site and soil. Long
known for our startling Sauvignon Blanc, we finally offer a red wine that
is the culmination of 12 years of viticultural and winemaking effort and
experience, of continuing endeavour that is the One Man Band 2008 red
blend.
One Man Band is a serious and painstaking assessment of
each year's harvest, each varietal, and each barrel. It is our attempt to
put the best possible red wine in a bottle using any, some, or all of our
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Mouvedre and Viognier,
regardless of planted proportions, creating a blend which surpasses any of
the single varietals on their own.
A blend gives us the leverage to produce – in any given
vintage a wine of substance, character, complexity and poise. A wine that
will authentically and honestly reflect each vintage at Iona.
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IONA ONE MAN BAND 2008
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On the design front – I had much admired what
Mouton-Rothchild had done with their premium label, which was to include a
contemporary artist on their label (not any old riff-raff – but a serious
superstar which included the likes of Picasso, Miro, and Chagal to name but
a few). Andrew and I had often spoken of a collaboration between art and
wine but somehow the right image, the right artist and the right wine
eluded us.
It was just over two years ago when we were trying to
think of something to call our new blend, that I muttered something about
how all of Bruce Arnott's works had such great names, so pertinent and
potent, yet at the same time humorous and modest. It was then that all the
pieces of the puzzle fell into place and the collaboration between artist
Bruce Arnott and ourselves for the label of OMB started in earnest.
I first met Bruce Arnott in 1987 as an undergraduate
student at the Michaelis School of Fine Art. I was then fortunate enough to
have him supervise my Master's Degree. Bruce is a man of few words but of
rigorously high standards.
This education was to have a profound effect on
how I would approach much in my subsequent professional life.
In an age of increasing mediocrity I was drawn to the
works of Arnott – which exhibited a level of craft, detail, intelligence
and relevance that I was trying to mimic in my own farming methods as means
to produce grapes of exceptional quality and which expressed their
provenance.
Bruces's work has been described as linking past and
possible future worlds. I wanted to grow a wine that had a thread linking
each vintage to its terroir despite vintage variation. To make a wine that
would one day speak of the progression of our endeavour. I would hesitate
to ever call wine art, but the pursuit of growing and making an exceptional
wine, certainly echoes the passion, vision, skill and experience of those
needed by the artist.
I think the Label for One Man Band is a considered and
successful go-between for the sculpture and the wine.
The strong linear
aesthetics of the illustration and the rigorous form of the sculpture with
its African yet contemporary style is well suited to the complex, balanced
and layered wine in the bottle.
One Man Band is a balancing act using many different
instruments, aiming to harmonise, co-ordinate and integrate the separate
elements. One Man Band is not a "fait accompli" – but rather
represents the notion of continuous endeavour and striving. There is
implied humility with necessary focus and dedication to the task at hand,
which is the cornerstone of our farming practices, the making and selling
of Iona wines.
Best wishes to you all and thank you for sharing in our
endeavours by drinking our wines.
Rozy
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