No. 6 Cabernet Merlot

This wine has the distinctive bay leaf aromas of Margaret River Cabernet together with deep cassis, chocolate and lifted red berry freshness.

The palate has brooding blackberry and cassis boosted in the mid-palate with generous bright red fruits from Merlot. Classic Cabernet structure and drive produces a long tail of fine tannin and crisp acid reinforced with subtle oak and appealing mineral notes.

SERVING TEMPERATURE | 16 - 18°
CELLAR POTENTIAL | Up to 10 - 15 years

Abundant rain over winter and spring set up good soil moisture. Yields were low due to the effects of frost damage the previous season and unsettled weather during flowering and fruit set.

The summer was warm and dry until heavy rain from the tail of Cyclone Olwyn in late-February, which was a welcome relief for late-ripening varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet. The typical autumn of dry, warm days and cool nights allowed a long, slow ripening period encouraging complex flavour development balanced with natural acid retention.

This wine is a natural expression of healthy, ripe fruit with inherent good structure and mature tannins. The fruit was picked in dry weather in early May and was destemmed and partially crushed before fermentation in open fermenters with twice-daily rack and return to extract flavour, colour and tannin.