2018 'Blue Cutting Road' Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Clare Valley

Red meat

2018

Deep red with crimson hues.

Dark berry fruit, cassis, cigar box oak and dried herb aromatics.

Soft and round palate with rich blackberry fruit, mocha oak and persistent tannin structure.

Drinking well now, but will age wonderfully up to 8 years.

Quality soils are the thumbprint of all great wines. Grey loam acid soils over sandstone and slate make up the profile of both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vineyards, with much of the top soil littered with rock, hinting at just how tough the vines need to be to sustain growth and produce quality fruit - not the mention the vigneron to ensure overall balance. 2012 marked the first year of NASAA Organic Certification for these vineyards.

These varieties are blended at the crusher. Small batch fermented in four tonne fermenters over a 12 day period using natural yeast and hand-plunged. Again, a percentage of whole bunch fruit is used in the open fermenters. The wine is left on skins post-fermentation for an additional 15 days, enhancing tannin complexity. Pressed and racked to oak after four days for a total of two years.

Alcohol - 14%

pH - 3.32

Acidity - 6.7g/L