Elspeth Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
| Vintage: 2007Varieties: Cabernet SauvignonArea: Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes BayWinemaker: Tim Preston & Paul DawickAlcohol: 14%Awards: 5 STARS Bob Campbell, Master of Wine5 STARS Wine Orbit August 2009GOLD - Tri-Nations Wine Challenge 2009Tasting Notes:This densely coloured and generous red was made from ultra premium grapes grown in our Mere Road Vineyard, located in the prestigious Gimblett Gravels district of Hawke's Bay. The grapes were handpicked on May 9th at 23.6 brix, destemmed, gently crushed and cold-soaked for 7 days. Fermentation was split into two parcels, the first (50%) innoculated with a selected yeast in a small open top fermenter and plunged twice daily, the second (50%) wild fermented in new Integrale barrels and rotated twice daily. After fermention to dry, the wine was macerated on its skins for a further sixteen days, followed by pressing to barrel, where it was aged for 16 months in 60% new and 40% one year old quality French oak (60% integrals and 40% hogsheads), with 2 aerated rackings throughout. Bottling took place under screwcap on 7th October 2008. This powerful mouthfilling Cabernet Sauvignon is intensely varietal wtih ripe blackcurrant, liquorice, plum, moccha and appetizing savoury and spice notes. It is immediately rich with a veil of tantalizing smokiness that complexes the ripe black fruitiness, moving to leather, spice and a hint of caramel, on a backbone of ripe velvety tannins. Vibrant and delicious, it has tremendous length, finishing dry, spicy and smooth.
|