PALATE
The palate shows ripe cool climate flavours of blackcurrant & cocoa. The cabernet gives length of flavour, whilst the merlot provides the velvety texture. Matured in French oak for 18 months, these old vines and skilled winemaking contribute to a remarkable wine.
VINTAGE
A perfect late Spring and early Summer resulted in the best flowering and fruit set we have seen for many years. It was followed by a dry and mild ripening period. The berries show intense perfume and great flavour which has produced exceptionally balanced wines.
WINEMAKING
The Merlot was picked before the more tannic Cabernet. Both varieties were de-stemmed and fermented in small open fermenters with hand plunging used to macerate the cap and extract colour and tannin. The Merlot and Cabernet then spent 3 weeks on skins, to allow the tannins to coalesce and become softer, before pressing, blending, and transferring to barrel. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel and the wine was racked twice during maturation. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months, of which 30% were new.