Nose
Intensely perfumed & suggestive of violet & cassis, complemented by anise, crushed tobacco & sweet baking spice
Palate
Concentrated yet finely structured, the palate is an explosion of mulberry & dark plum, with bay leaf & sweet pastry crust notes adding complexity. The fine, suede like tannins deliver assured structure & flow through to a near impeccable length
Growing Conditions
An outstanding vintage. The season commenced with a wet start to June when rainfall was 30% above average. From here onwards, the months dried to below average rainfall & maximum temperatures crept up above the long-term averages. Lower yields but very high quality
Harvest
Block 17 Cabernet was harvest on 12th March, Block 14 Cabernet was picked on 17th March & Block 21 Merlot was taken in on 25th February 2020
Bottling
The wine was bottled on 29th November 2021
Winemaking
A blend of 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon (for structure & flavour) & 9.5% Merlot (for body & softness), which was selectively picked & then sorted for optimum quality. The fruit spent 15 days on skins extracting colour, tannin & flavour, with fermentation taking place in one tonne hand-plunged open fermenters.
Aging
Matured in French barriques for 18 months, followed by barrel selection & blending, resulting in 40% new oak in the final blend
Appearance
Deep crimson
Food Pairing
Grilled flank steak with garlic & rosemary or smoky butternut pumpkin chili with quinoa, pinto & black beans