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The fruit acts as a velvet glove to surround a considerable quotient of tannin in a 'black' red wine.
Background: The Cabernet Merlot is the largest red by volume and is intense in flavour and character. Cabernet Sauvignon at about 65% has the dominant role yet Merlot at about 35%, is more than a minor player. Indeed tasters sometimes suggest that the Merlot is dominant. Merlot extends the flavour, enhances the finish and performs in a very positive fashion.
Our winemaking process begins in the vineyard. Maturity must be reached regardless of birds, rain or hungry kangaroos. The grapes are tasted to ensure that any herby green flavours have departed. Hand picking into stackable plastic crates avoids premature damage. Berries are destalked then pumped, largely intact, to an overhead fermenter to remain on skins for a period of about three weeks. The cap is thoroughly irrigated during and following fermentation to achieve an even temperature distribution and a complete extraction of all those components that make a red wine so highly coloured and flavoured.
The Malolactic fermentation is completed in stainless steel prior to 12 months maturation in 225 litre Barriques. The wine is lightly filtered and bottle aged for six to twelve months prior to release.
Colour: Deep crimson with a purple rim.
Bouquet and Palate: The generosity of fruit is the wines most appealing flavour characteristic, showing ripe berry characters that comprehensively mask the abundant tannins. The wine shows a range of flavours in succession. It is complex, yet supple. There is a deliberately restrained acidity that permits the play of other flavour components. Cabernet Merlot will complement the main course and yet agreeably accompany the sweets.
Cellaring: A most pleasing aspect is the manner in which the fruit acts as a velvet glove to surround and balance a considerable quotient of tannin. This yields early drinking pleasure. Red wines live on tannins and alcohol and this wine will therefore repay cellaring. Only then will all components thoroughly integrate and the wine presents its softest, most whimsical face.
Current
Vintage 2004
A lighter, more fragrant and fruity red with rich mid palate and a thoroughly pleasant finish. A wine with great capacity to enhance the enjoyment of any food.
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