Nose
Mulberries, cassis and subtle hints of forest undergrowth greet on the nose with background notes of cedar, lacquer and oyster-shell.
Palate
Seamless entry boasting fine grain tannin that is both coating and mineral. Flavours of blueberries, liquorice and glazed cherries abound on the mid-palate with a persistent and powerful dark fruit finish driving this elegant wine deep into one’s memory.
Growing Conditions
The Margaret River Wine Region has been blessed with eight great growing seasons in a row. Vintage 2014 started off with some late, heavy rainfall in September and two minor hail events in October. However from here on, there weren't any significant weather events until a heat spike the week prior to Christmas. The entire flowering period occurred in warm, mild conditions resulting in good fruit-set across all varieties. Vintage conditions were ideal for ripening all varieties with little or no disease present and no rainfall pressures.
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-picked, de-stemmed and the berries just split to allow for minimal breakdown of the skin and to preserve the natural fruit freshness. The grapes were pumped over three times a day for 18 days, after which the wine was separated from the skins and allowed to finish fermentation in premium French oak barriques. The wine is aged in 45% new oak barrels for 18 months, after which it was blended, clarified and bottled.
Aging
This is a fresh drink now style, but can be aged for up to 10 years for added complexity.
Appearance
Crimson with streaks of blue and black.
