TASTING NOTE Blackberry bramble and blue fruit aromas, along with aromatic flowering woody herbs, hints of tobacco, cloves and cedary oak. Flavours of blackberry, cherry and plum, earthy warm spices, thyme and dark chocolate. The wine has a Shiraz plushness in the mid palate and chewy Cabernet tannins with a lingering finish. VINTAGE SUMMARYWe experienced another excellent growing season in 2021/2022 with a wet winter setting the vines up nicely. A very mild, but also dry, summer/autumn followed – meaning there was low disease pressure over a very gentle and extended ripening period.Yields were slightly down on average but with other conditions being favourable, the season has resulted in excellent wines showing great varietal character and lovely fresh natural acidity. VINEYARDThe fruit for this wine was sourced from two vineyard sites in McLaren Vale - the Cabernet coming from the Seaview sub region and the Shiraz from the Whites Valley area. The Cabernet vines from the Seaview location are grown on single cordon trellis in brown sandy loams over ironstone and quartz. The Whites Valley vineyard where the Shiraz is grown is planted on alluvial clay, sand and gravel, these vines are also trellised single cordon. WINEMAKINGEach parcel of fruit was picked and fermented separately to allow for tailored blending prior to bottling. The ferments were carried out in stainless steel open fermenters with gentle pump overs and plunging for cap management. After 10-14 days on skins, wines were basket pressed to stainless steel tanks to complete alcoholic fermentation. Post primary fermentation, wines were racked to French oak (10% new oak) for maturation and malolactic fermentation. FOOD PAIRINGSlow braised venison with blackcurrant and thyme WINEMAKERRenae Hirsch VARIETY: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% ShirazREGION: McLaren Vale, South AustraliaSOIL: Cabernet - brown sandy loams over ironstone and quartzShiraz - alluvial clay, sand and gravelALCOHOL: 14.5%TA: 6.95 g/LpH: 3.47Awards & Reviews 92 Points - Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion"From two vineyard sites: the cabernet (51%) from Seaview and the shiraz (49%) from Whites Valley; matured in French oak, 10% new. Cabernet holds the mic here, with the shiraz swelling up the expression, amplifying and filling in the nooks and crannies. Blackberry, plum, cassis, green peppercorn and laurel, the fruit ripe but not boisterous, the cabernet playing its part to firm up the shiraz, or that’s how it feels. There’s neat balance and good drinking here. "
