2021 The Mallee Root

Vintage Notes

The 2021 Vintage
The growing season was a mild Spring with reasonable but not extreme rainfall which was excellent for the vines. November was significantly wet – double the long-term average with 14 days of rain. As harvest was commencing in early February, the region again saw significant rainfall which was beneficial for the later-ripening red varietals.

Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot picked on 5th April 2021; Malbec picked on 21st March.

Winemaking Notes

On delivery to the winery, the fruit is hand-plunged in open top fermenters, which helps contribute to the soft generosity. Spending eight to ten days on skins gives the wine good flesh and bright fruit with a refined tannin profile. It is then barrel aged in French oak for 15 months (of which 30% of the oak is new), with a secondary fermentation occurring in the barrel. The final blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.

Tasting Notes

• On the nose, a red currant and floral perfume with a hint of aniseed.
• Aromas of gravelly smoky oak with a warming sweet spice.
• A focused and polished palate that is complex and savoury.
• The subtle oak structure drives the wine.