Cabernets Shiraz Merlot 2006

Published on September 5, 2009

tasting notes

Deep red colour, ripe dark fruits on the nose - blackberry, a little blackcurrant and savoury notes from subtle, spicy oak. Full-bodied palate with concentrated flavour and plenty of weight, yet with fine dry tannins giving an impression of elegance. Very good length.

best drinking

2010 - 2014 or more

accolades

  • Silver medal International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009.

vineyard

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

vintage

A warm spring with plenty of rain was followed by a hot and very dry summer, with only a third of our usual rainfall from December to April.
Many grapes shriveled, and died on the vine with high sugar levels, but without reaching full maturity.
Irrigation and selective picking saved part of the crop and the 2006 wines look surprisingly intense and balanced. However, it was certainly not an easy vintage

winemaking

The 2006 Sarsfield Estate Cabernets Shiraz Merlot is a single vineyard blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 20% Shiraz , 15% Merlot and 2% Mourvèdre. Grapes were fermented in open vats and pressed in a hand-operated wooden press. The wine has been matured for 18 months in French (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels.
Alcohol: 14.1%, Titr. Acidity: 6.8 g/L, pH 3.43