Bottled |
30th October 2023 |
Released |
21st March 2024 |
Alcohol |
14.0% |
Moss Wood 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon
Having finally reached required ripeness, everything proceeded according to our Moss Wood recipe. All the fruit was hand-picked and delivered to the winery, where it was sorted, destemmed and placed into small, open fermenters for fermentation. Skin contact time varied a little between batches, with pressing done after 13 to 16 days. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in stainless steel and once completed all batches were racked to wood. The barrels were 228 litre French oak and 16% were new.
The various batches were blended for the first time in December 2022, and the finished wine was returned to barrel for the last period of aging.
The final racking took place at the beginning of October 2023 and fining trials were conducted on the finished wine. None improved the tannin balance and so it remains unfined. It was then sterile filtered and bottled on 30th October 2023.
CELLARING
Our recommendations for cellaring the Moss Wood 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon are very simple and in the classic tradition of this wine. Given the nature of the season, it is very appealing now, with lifted fruit notes and soft round tannins and can certainly be enjoyed as a youngster. However, it will repay long term cellaring and we suggest a minimum of 10 years, to allow it to develop some bottle bouquet. For those who wish to see it at its peak, we recommend aging for at least 20 years.
Drinking Window: 2024-2041