2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 looks like another wonderful vintage for the Margaret River region. Average maximum and minimum temperatures were up to 2⁰ warmer than historical averages and several records were broken: the month of June was the driest in recorded history for the South West land division and the lack of rain continued through July. August, however, recorded a new record of over 200mm rain, while at the same time experienced the second highest minimum temperature recorded. The wet weather and warmer temperatures (0.3 – 1.9⁰ warmer than historical averages) continued into Spring.

Summer temperatures were warm, but not as hot as previous years, and little rainfall fell over the whole of the summer. The fruit for this wine was picked in small batches by hand on 2nd April, 2014. It is anticipated that wines of this vintage will be long lasting wines, which are big in flavour and style.

Vinification

The fruit was hand plunged in small batch open top fermenters with a total of 14 days on skins to achieve a brightly fruited wine with good flesh and a refined tannin profile.French oak barrels were used, 40% of which were new. The wine was aged in barrel for 16 months before extensive blending trials were undertaken to determine the composition for the 2014 vintage.The final blend is made up of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Petit Verdot.
The wine was bottled in December 2015 and sealed under screwcap closure.

Tasting Notes

All class here with cassis, red cherry, red and black currant, bay leaf and balanced cedar vanilla oak The palate flows with red and black fruits framed by silky tannins with just a lick creamy vanilla from the French oak.