Very dark, deep garnet with a ranslucent rim. The aromas open with a cavalcade of red cherries supported by spicy oak bringing hints of clove, toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted brioche, followed by beautiful floral notes. Round and inviting from the start of the first mouthful, the fruit is ripe but the acidity is fresh with clean berry fruit. The wine shows a voluminous mid-palate although the overall feeling is mid-bodied. Supported by seriously long tannins and fine notes of cigar box, salted toffee, vanilla and that unmistakable floral that interlace with the dark cherry characters.
In 2016, our cabernet franc block was exceptional. Winter provided average rainfall and spring delivered beautiful warm, dry conditions, perfectly setting up vintage 2016. A warm start to summer in January gave good fruit set and crop predictions. An unseasonal single rain event in late Januray delivered adequate soil moisture for full maturity in the red varieties.
Vineyard sorting and harvesting was carried out exclusively by hand, with fruit gathered into small crates holding 6.5kg early in the morning of the 11th of March. The fruit was fully destemmed and lightly crushed minutes later at the winery, less than 400m from these vines. A cold soak followed for 3 days held at 10°c. The maceration was extended post fermentation to reach a total of 35 days on skins. Skins were then basket pressed straight into 100% French oak barrels (40% new) for malolactic fermentation. The wine was left to age in in the same barrels for 18 months before being bottled, unfined and unfiltered in late December 2017.
