Vintage
2016 was a superb Cabernet year in Margaret River because ofthe warm, even conditions that suitthe variety. A small rainfall eventin January helped arrestrising sugar concentrations allowing tannin & flavour development to catch up & reach perfect equilibrium
Fruit Source
A single vineyard wine from the 43-year old original plantings. Unirrigated to this day, the vineyard is sustainably farmed following organic principles. The fruit was hand-picked from 17th March & then between 2 nd â€?4 th April at 13.0° to 14.0° Bé
Colour
Brilliant deep garnet with purple hues
Nose
A complex and concentrated nose suggestive of blue fruits, dark chocolate, vanilla & a touch of cedar
Palate
An example of power with finesse showing concentrated fruit flavours, integrated oak & seamless tannins
Winemaking
A blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon (for structure & flavour), 4.5% Cabernet Franc (perfume & smoothness), 4.5% Malbec (colour &richness),& 4.5% Merlot(body& softness),which is carefully hand-picked, then sorted for optimum quality. The fruit is cold-soaked for four days which allows a gentle extraction of colour, aroma & flavour pre-ferment; the cool temperature prevents the ferment from initiating. The fruit spends between 16-21 days on skins to extract colour, tannin & flavour, with the ferment taking place in hand-plunged open fermenters with maturation in French barriques for 18 months, of which 50% are new.
Food Suggestion
Scotch fillet with mixed mushroom sauce