2022 Cabernet Shiraz

TASTING NOTE

Tobacco and cedar on the nose with a hint of violet. The palate show juicy black cherry with black pepper spice and fine chocolatey tannins giving the wine a lovely persistence

VINTAGE SUMMARY

We experienced another excellent growing season in 2021/2022 with a wet winter setting the vines up nicely. A very mild, but also dry, summer/autumn followed – meaning there was low disease pressure over a very gentle and extended ripening period.

Yields were slightly down on average but with other conditions being favourable, the season has resulted in excellent wines showing great varietal character and lovely fresh natural acidity.

VINEYARD

The fruit for this wine was sourced from two vineyard sites in McLaren Vale - the Cabernet coming from the Seaview sub region and the Shiraz from the Whites Valley area.

The Cabernet vines from the Seaview location are grown on single cordon trellis in brown sandy loams over ironstone and quartz.

The Whites Valley vineyard where the Shiraz is grown is planted on alluvial clay, sand and gravel, these vines are also trellised single cordon. 

WINEMAKING

Each parcel of fruit was picked and fermented separately to allow for tailored blending prior to bottling.

The ferments were carried out in stainless steel open fermenters with gentle pump overs and plunging for cap management. After 10-14 days on skins, wines were basket pressed to stainless steel tanks to complete alcoholic fermentation.

Post primary fermentation, wines were racked to French oak (10% new oak) for maturation and malolactic fermentation.

FOOD PAIRING

Slow braised venison with blackcurrant and thyme

WINEMAKER

Renae Hirsch

VARIETY: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz
REGION: McLaren Vale, South Australia
SOIL: Cabernet - brown sandy loams over ironstone and quartz
Shiraz - alluvial clay, sand and gravel

ALCOHOL: 14.5%
TA: 6.97 g/L
pH: 3.5

Awards & Reviews

92 Points - Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion

"From two vineyard sites: the cabernet (51%) from Seaview and the shiraz (49%) from Whites Valley; matured in French oak, 10% new. Cabernet holds the mic here, with the shiraz swelling up the expression, amplifying and filling in the nooks and crannies. Blackberry, plum, cassis, green peppercorn and laurel, the fruit ripe but not boisterous, the cabernet playing its part to firm up the shiraz, or that’s how it feels. There’s neat balance and good drinking here. "