8 Gold Medals

Generous ripe fruit flavours of the Clare Valley are balanced with elegant, fine tannins, lifted mint character and velvety finish of the Coonawarra.

Dry/Sweet
dry
semi sweet
sweet
wine body
light
medium
full
Oak
none
some
plenty
grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

blend or single variety

Single Variety

region

Clare Valley 68% / Coonawarra 32%

colour

At release, the wine has a deep ruby red colour to the centre with a youthful purple hue to the edges.

nose

There are lifted aromas of dark blackcurrant fruit along with subtle choc-mint and a hint of eucalypt.

palate

On the palate, this is a rich, full-bodied wine with intense flavours of cassis and blackberry fruit along with attractive oak characters of cigar box and tobacco leaf. Overall, the wine is well balanced with complex, well-integrated, elegant tannins providing structure and an intense, persistent length to the finish.

oak maturation

The wine was matured for just over 14 months in new French oak barrels prior to final blending and then preparation for bottling.

vintage conditions

The 2010 growing season in the Clare Valley commenced with above average winter/spring rainfall. During flowering in November an unprecedented heat wave occurred; the Clare Valley experienced 13 consecutive days above 30?C. This heat-wave coincided with the peak of vine flowering, which resulted in reduced yields across almost all varieties at harvest. The heat-wave was finally broken by some much needed rainfall, which reinvigorated the vines enabling them to start growing again. While temperatures were a little higher than average during late January and February, the evenings and mornings were cool and mild, contributing to favourable sugar and flavour ripening conditions across the red varieties.

In the Coonawarra, the 2010 vintage showed great promise, with above average winter rainfall giving good soil moisture levels for budburst in early spring. Favourable conditions continued during spring with minimal frost and settled flowering conditions allowing for excellent vine canopy development and fruit set. During November, much of South Australia experienced a protracted ?ot spell? however most vineyards in Coonawarra were spared from damage as bunch development was still at an early stage. Strategic crop manipulation and reduction was widespread across the district to ensure fruit development was optimum. With a return to more stable weather patterns during January and February, our key varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz exhibited the benefit of slow maturity; ripe tannins and flavours of a high standard showing vibrant varietal distinction.

cellaring notes

Crafted for immediate enjoyment but will cellar over a long term under ideal conditions.

alcohol volume

14.50%

acid

6.02

pH

3.55

residual sugar

0.43

pack size

Single: 750ml bottle, Case: 6 x 750ml bottle

previous vintages

2009,2008