CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Production 880 cases
Release March 2011
Recommended Retail Price $22.00

Tasting Notes

The 2009 Cabernet is deep Ruby in colour with aromas of blackcurrant and spice. The flavours are soft and mouth filing with well integrated oak complexity following 18 months in American oak. Enjoy the regional flavours of this single vineyard wine with roast meats and vegetables, pasta or pizza. This is a vibrant wine that will continue to develop in the bottle over the next few years.

Growing Season

Budburst in 2009 was very slow and the dry spring led to reduced growth and a poor flowering during November. Following fruit set it was obvious that the dry conditions had taken their toll on the vines and they had self regulated to produce a very small crop load. Bunch weight at harvest was the lowest we have seen in recent years with bunches coming in at half the weight of 2008 harvest. The small berries and bunches allowed for great fruit intensity and the fruit ripened early and was harvested on March 2nd.

Winemaking

Mechanical harvest was undertaken in the early hours of the morning to ensure the fruit arrived at the winery at cool below 12 degrees.. The fruit was crushed and de-stemmed prior to being transferred to open fermenters. The must was inoculated using L2323 yeast and fermentation was held between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius . The cap was plunged by hand every twelve hours for 6 days. The wine was pressed off skins then transferred to three year old French and four year old American and oak. The wine was then racked every six weeks before being returned to barrel. Following nine months in barrel the wine was prepared for bottling which was done in October 2010.

Analysis

pH: 3.5
Ta: 6.1
Res Sugar: 2 g/L

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