ATTRIBUTES
Our Merlot Cabernet blend, inspired by the famed Bordeaux region, showcases a beautiful synergy between these two grape varieties. The wine opens with enticing dark fruit aromas, complemented by notes of black olive and forest floor. With aeration, the nose reveals intriguing layers of violets and mocha. On the palate, it’s juicy and vibrant, offering fruit cake spice and a medium-bodied tannin structure. The finish is long and silky, a testament to extended barrel maturation that has lent this wine elegance and a refined tannin profile. Ready for immediate enjoyment, it also has the potential for short to medium-term cellaring.
WINEMAKING
The 2020 growing season was mild, with occasional warm spells that helped achieve even ripening of tannins and fruit. Harvested in the early hours of March 6th, the Merlot and Cabernet grapes were picked by our state-of-the-art Pellenc harvester. This vintage marked the first red wine processed at our new Whillas Road winery in Port Lincoln. The grapes, harvested separately, were co-fermented in an open stainless steel fermenter. The fermentation on skins lasted 14 days, with daily pumpovers and twice-daily plunges to maximize color and tannin extraction. After fermentation, the wine remained on the skins for an additional 10 days before being basket pressed.
The wine was aged in barrels, with 40% new French oak and the remainder in 2-3 year old French oak, for a total of 24 months. It was twice racked from barrel to stainless steel before bottling in June 2023.
VINEYARDS
Located on the Teakle property in Port Lincoln, 2 kilometers from the foreshore at an elevation of 150 meters, our vineyard benefits from rich sandy loam topsoil overlying friable red-brown clay loam subsoil. The combination of moderately warm summer temperatures and refreshing maritime breezes creates ideal ripening conditions. The long sunshine hours ensure even grape maturation, while the gentle breezes help retain the wine’s natural acidity.