2019 Cabernet Merlot

"Juicy, rich and refreshing"

This juicy Cabernet Merlot blend is rich with dark fruit notes yet easy
drinking. The notes of black currant, cranberries, cherries, and plums are
balanced by herbaceous notes of raspberry leaf, sweet bell pepper, and
lavender followed by sweet spices like cinnamon and clove.
On the palate - more red fruit comes through, like red currant,
cranberries, raspberry and red cherry. Together with elevated acidity, it
makes this wine bright and refreshing balanced by medium, rounded
tannins and a long finish.

Winemaker notes

Vintage: Rainfall for this vintage was near average across Greater Perth, and
annual mean maximum and minimum temperatures were generally close to
average. Summer was very warm with below-average rainfall and maximum and
minimum temperatures were more than one degree above average.

Growing: Yield the strong focus when pruning both Estate vineyard blocks.
Careful foliage wire lifting close to vintage time is done for sunlight exposure to
the canopy. These vineyards are in its first year of a 5 year program for further
organic matter development. This wine was made with low chemical inputs and no
pesticides in vineyard management. When required, our spray program ensured
limited fungal disease allowing for a progression in ripening.

Winemaking: the Estate block Merlot was hand-picked on the 15th of February
and the Estate block Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-picked on the 1st of March.
This Cabernet Merlot blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot has 10
months of French oak maturation with regular pH and sulphur content. Testing
was the only intervention conducted at that time.
A medium-bodied red wine offering sweet plummy berries and soft tannin
structure.

Alc. 13.2%
Not vegan.

2019 Cabernet Merlot wine experience

This Cabernet Merlot blend is for wine drinkers who enjoy juicy, fruit-forward wines with
medium to full body and structure but still like the wines to be refreshing and bright, more French style.

Enjoy this Cabernet Merlot at room temperature or slightly cooler: 15-18° C. Lower
temperatures will make the wine more refreshing highlighting acidity and bright red fruit notes making it perfect for warmer days. Slightly warmer temperatures help bring up more dark fruit notes and structure for a savoury meal on a cooler winter day.

This wine will also benefit from decanting in a medium-sized decanter for about 20 mins
which softens the wine and allows delicate elevated notes to open up.

Enjoy now or cellar for 5 years to allow more sweet spice, dried and cooked berries notes to develop. For food pairing, opt-in for savoury, grilled, roasted foods. Very spicy and sweet and sour dishes will bring up alcohol and tannin while pushing the fruit back. While lightly spicy, Moroccan spice, Chinese five spice, mildly spicy or smoked seasoning will work perfectly.

Food pairings

🥦- Garlic-roasted sweet potatoes with rosemary, beetroot feta (or vegan feta) rocket
salad with balsamic vinegar, vegan curry, mushroom shawarma, bulgur stuffed
roasted eggplant, falafel.

🍕- Bbq pizza, salami pizza, spaghetti with meatballs, pasta bake with tomato sauce
and parmesan.

🍗- Turkey with cranberry sauce, butter chicken, Beef Stroganoff, shepherd's pie,
slow-cooked lamb shoulder, shish kebab, moussaka, smoked bbq brisket, pulled
pork with potato mash and peas.

🍜- Peking duck, Sticky Korean chicken drumsticks, 5-spice chicken and vegetable stir
fry, Char kway teow, Singapore fried rice, mee goreng.

🧀- Aged Gouda, smoked cheddar, Gruyere, Mimolette; bresaola, smoked meats,
salami, droe wors, pickles, black olives.