Nose
Typically lifted and aromatic, the fruit characters are bright and charming – this Cabernet
Merlot packs a punch! With redcurrant, mulberry, satsuma plum and a violet perfume, the
background has milk chocolatey yumminess.
Palate
This medium bodied wine is soft and salivating, with the 2015 vintage being more about the
cabernet than the merlot. The palate is succulent and moreish with raspberry and mulberry
backed by mocha oak characteristics. The structure is true to cabernet with fine powdery
tannins and great length, the smaller than usual percentage of merlot filling out the palate.
Growing Conditions
The Margaret River Vintage 2015 will be remembered for its concentrated flavours in white
wines and delicate fruit forward red wines. With very low crop levels and a severe lack of
marri and karri blossom which resulted in ravenous marauding birds hungry to eat grapes.
Rewards came to vineyards with good canopy structure. Flavours were bright and fresh with
natural acidity high and in good balance. Once again the weather gods were on our side for a
classic Margaret River vintage.
Winemaking
The cabernet sauvignon component was held on skins for 10 days to help build the structure
of the wine. The merlot was pressed earlier to retain bright fruit aromatics, while still
providing mid palate sweetness. The traditional Bordelaise winemaking technique of
délistage was used during maceration to provide bright aromatics while increasing oxygen in
order to help with tannin polymerisation. 10% new French oak was used on this wine to
complement the fruit while providing some subtle mocha and vanillin oak sweetness. The
wine was held in oak for 12 months and racked and returned twice before being fined with
Margaret River free range eggs, filtered and bottled.
Appearance
Vivid crimson with purple hues.
Food Pairing
Slow roasted duck marylands, with braised red cabbage and
hazelnuts.
