The Vineyard
Sourced from our long established vineyards in Margaret River. This area exhibits the classic gravelly lateritic soils that drain to the west and the microclimate is strongly influenced by the Indian Ocean only 5kms away. These vineyards are manually cane pruned, meticulously treated as individual vines throughout the season and hand harvested in 6.5kg crates that allow each section to be handled with all the particular care it deserves.
The Season
Margaret River experienced amongst the warmest vintage on record and on a par with the very warm 2011 vintage. White varieties were all harvested in a rush and look fantastic with the fruit all in the winery by the end of February. The red varieties enjoyed a long warm ripening season that ensured beautiful mature tannins and bright varietal fruit flavor.
Winemaking
After destemming, individual berry sorting and light crushing, individual vineyard batches were fermented on skins for up to 30 days. At the desired balance of fruit and tannin extraction, each batch was gently basket pressed, with harder pressings kept aside. The individual parcels were racked to oak following pressing for malolactic fermentation. The wines were matured for 18 to 20 months (depending on batches) in selected coopered barriques of which about 70% were new.
Analysis
14.0% alcohol, 5.7 g/l acidity, 3.67 pH.
Wine Business Magazine
Another grand Cape Mentelle in the making, uniting depth of black fruits with classy French oak. Perfectly polished tannins are its most profound feature, at once ultra fine and at the same time commanding and enduring. A magnificent cabernet with a very big future before it.