2023 Wild Cape Cabernet Sauvignon

colour

Purple black with a vibrant purple rim. Intense and deep from the inclusion of a touch of Malbec and the excellent 2023 red vintage.

aroma

Ripe, layered and complex whilst still having the lovely perfumed lift that the best Margaret River Cabernet wines are renowned for.

palate

Blackberry, olive and dry earth with a touch of bright leafiness defines the aroma and flavour of the wine.

cellaring

Best enjoyed within the next three to five years for aromatic freshness. 

vintage

The 2023 vintage in Margaret River started with the 2022 winter temperatures being cooler than the long-term average, which is fantastic for ensuring a sound dormancy for the vines to set them up for a strong growing season. There was markedly less-than-average winter rain however but enough to re-charge dams and the soil profile. The growing season began with a later than usual budburst due to this cool winter which pushed vine development back by about 2–3 weeks.

winemaking

Both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec fruit was harvested cold and soaked for 5 days on skins before the onset of fermentation. After another 7 days of fermentation for the Malbec and 12 days for the Cabernet, each batch was pressed off skins to used French oak barrels with a portion of the Cabernet seeing new French oak hogsheads (300L) which represented ~15% new oak in the final blend.

Following gentle pressing in a small airbag press, the pressings fractions were blended back into the free-run for both varieties and underwent natural MLF in oak. The wine was then matured for 14 months with each barrel being topped monthly. Following the maturation period, select barrels were carefully blended before being bottled under screw cap and bottled matured for 4 months. No winery filtration.

region

Margaret River

variety

Cabernet Sauvignon 96%

Malbec 4%

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%
• pH: 3.45
• Acidity (TA): 6.33 g/L

Share a bottle of this wine with friends over a long summer evening barbecue with delicious local grilled meats and produce.