Cabernet 2004

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One of the famous French varieties from the Bordeau region of France on the Dordogne river, Cabernet has travelled the world and can be found in nearly all wine growing regions other than in those with cool climates.
A vigorous vine with moderate cropping levels, grown at RiverBank on a vertical shoot positioned canopy the vines are dripper irrigated from a bore on the property. The vines are hand pruned.
The Cabernet is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Cabernet Franc. The latter softens the wine and broadens the palate.
Cabernet is our last variety picked – in 2004 on the 21st of March.
The fruit was machine harvested at a beaume of 14.7 and a pH of 3.7 Tartaric acid was added to lower the pH to 3.5
Fermentation was undertaken with added yeast at 25C on skins to add color, phenolics and tannins to the wine. The wine was regularly pumped over to mix the fermenting juice to aid color, phenolic & tannin extraction.
Pressing then occurred in an air bag press at low pressures to not over extract bitter phenolic compounds from the grape skins. Left in tank for a further 6 weeks to allow a malo lactic fermentation
[this process induced by a bacterial culture converts malic acid to the softer lactic acid ]
Sulphur dioxide was then added and the wine transferred to a mix on French & American oak barrels for a period of 24 months prior to bottling.

The wine has gentle oak overtones combined with typical Cabernet characters to produce a wine with body and depth of character.
Black current, dark cherry & chocolate characters dominate the palate leading to a lengthy & broad palate with soft tannins and a persistent aftertaste.
Designed to drink now, the wine sealed with a screw cap will age gently preserving it’s youthfillnes.

Alcohol content 14.2%