Cabernets Shiraz Merlot 2003

Published onAugust 5, 2007

tasting notes

Appearance: Intense dark red.
Nose: Blackcurrant, with spicy overtones.
Palate: Rather full bodied, soft round palate with strong plum and blackcurrant flavours and some spicy notes. An attractive, well balanced wine with good cool climate character.

best drinking

2005 – 2008

reveiwsfour and a half glasses

Fresh and vibrant in the estate style; a cascade of red and black fruits.
89/100 -James Halliday: Wine Companion 2005

  • Winner of the Annual Federation Square Wine Awards 2004-5, Class Red Blends.

vineyard

Sarsfield Estate Vineyard is located in the Lakes and Wilderness area of East Gippsland, Victoria.
All grapes used are exclusively estate-grown.

vintage

2003 was one of the warmest and certainly an extremely dry year with only 45% of the average rainfall. The main problem was the smoke of the severe bushfires, which covered the vineyard for weeks, but overall 2003 was an excellent vintage.

winemaking

The Sarsfield Estate Cabernets Shiraz Merlot is a single vineyard blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 30% Shiraz and 16% Merlot.
Grapes were fermented in open vats and pressed in a hand-operated wooden press. The wine has been matured for 18 months in French (66%) and American (33%) oak barrels.
Alcohol: 13.7%, Titr. Acidity: 6.1 g/L, pH: 3.51