2014 SINGLE VINEYARD 'BLOCK 21A' CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Block 21A has been the source of some of the best Cabernet on our Wrattonbully Vineyard for many years. This single block has been selected and bottled separately due to its very thin layer of ‘Terra Rossa’ sandy loam overlying soft limestone. The vines grow roots that penetrate deep into the rock producing small bunches and tiny berries leading to intense fruit flavours and distinctive fine tannin structures.
Big bold flavours of cassis and blackberry integrated with spicy oak. A full rich palate packed with sweet ripe berry fruits balanced by French oak. Chalky fine tannins provide excellent structure and depth to the long and generous palate that will live for many years. This single vineyard wine is a full bodied Cabernet of distinction that can be enjoyed now or will benefit from further cellaring.
Awards
2017 James Halliday Wine Companion (95 points)
Silver - Limestone Coast Wine Show 2016 (Class 34)
Silver - Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2016 (Class 25)
James Halliday Wine Tasting Notes
Vivid, full crimson-purple; a full-bodied, immaculately balanced cabernet, chock-full of mulberry, blueberry and - above all else - cassis fruit; then there are the ripe but implacable tannins, oak waving its hands to speak, but not given a hearing. Patience needed. Drink to 2049.
Region
Wrattonbully, South Australia
Vintage
The 2014 growing season got off to a good start with good spring rain but cold wet weather in November and early December delayed flowering. Late fruit set was followed by late veraison in mid-late February which allowed the vines to avoid any adverse effects from the three heatwaves of late January – mid February. In the end the grapes ripened in much more benign conditions. Reds ripened beautifully. Cabernet and Merlot were very good and the best parcels of Shiraz were outstanding. Yields were down this year.
Vineyard
Wrattonbully adjoins the Coonawarra area in the southern part of the Limestone Coast wine zone. The prominent viticultural feature of the area is the series of ancient beach ridges and dunes which run roughly north-south through the area. These ridges are made up of soft crumbly limestone which weathers to produce the red and brown Terra Rossa clay loam soils so highly prized for grape growing. The ridges and dunes have elevations of up to 30m compared with the Coonawarra Terra Rossa 'high' of less than 5m. The extra elevation on the Wrattonbully dunes produce the advantage of cold air drainage which reduces the risk of frost during the growing season.
Winemaking
Picked when acid and flavour are ripe, this is then destemmed and crushed into static fermenters. Fermented for 10 days using selected yeast strain and then pressed off skins into French oak for 18 months maturation. Barrels are then selected, blended and prepared for bottling.
