2019 Single Vineyard Malbec

colour

Stunning depth and intensity typical of the Malbec variety – black iodine core with a dark purple rim

aroma

A wine that achieves the balancing act of being perfectly ripe and rich but with lovely vibrancy and life in the aroma and palate.

palate

Violets, blood plum, wine gum and a touch of peaty earthiness are found at this youthful stage of the wine, which will further complex and add intrigue over time. The palate texture is, and will always be, soft and fine. A world-class example of this rarely seen straight varietal. 

cellaring

Drink within five to ten years from vintage. 

vintage

The 2019 vintage in the Margaret River region can be summarised as late, (mainly due to the cool spring and summer), low yielding, and with some disease pressure. The blocks required careful management and those that received early and careful leaf and shoot removal thrived. Longer “hang” (ripening) time was required for our southern Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon sites compared to our more northern located vineyards. The low red yields and very good ripening month of April meant we achieved soft, ripe tannins and full long flavours in our red wine styles.

winemaking

The fruit was picked cool in the early morning of 18 April 2019 before being cold soaked on skins for 5 days. The must was partially wild fermented in a small open fermenter with gentle handling on skins to extract colour and structure without any harsh tannins. When the decision was made to press the ferment off skins, the pressings component was blended back into the free-run to give the ideal body and structure to the final wine – something we did more so for our red wines from the cooler and longer 2019 vintage.

The wine went straight into French oak puncheons (500L barrels) with 12% being new. These larger puncheon barrels ensure perfume and freshness is retained whilst achieving a silky and refined palate along with textural complexity – a difficult goal to achieve in red winemaking. The result is a world-class Malbec wine rarely seen as a straight varietal in Australia, let alone Margaret River.

region

Margaret River

variety

Malbec

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.5%
• pH: 3.58
• TA 6.18 g/L

Grilled sirloin steak with mushroom cream sauce. 

margaret river wine show 2020

Best Other Blend or Varietal

wine show of western australia 2020

Best Other Blend or Varietal

Halliday wine companion 2022

Fruit from the Carter Road vineyard in Wilyabrup. Matured in French oak puncheons (12% new). Densely flavoured and structured, this is a big wine. Supple tannins shape the vibrant fruit and usher it through to the finish. Plenty to like, and certainly a great food match.