Smidge Wines La Grenouille McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (RRP $38 WM $36.90)

Tasting Notes  

As soon as this wine is poured into the glass the colour is black to the core, with aromas of red/black fruits especially blackcurrants with an attractive ash note, a subtle herbal lift with cedar and char. Once on the palate this wine is full of lively red fruits and blackcurrants, chocolate and ash. The finish is long and juicy balanced by firm fine tannins.

Cellaring

Drink now until 2025 with careful cellaring.

Viticulture 

This Cabernet sauvignon was sourced from our Estate vineyard in the Willunga area to the South of McLaren Vale on a block of deep red clay/loam with an even spread of quartz and slate shale. The vineyard is 40 years old and is trellised with two cordons approximately 600mm apart. This structure allows ensure an open canopy allowing light ingress and air movement resulting in even ripening and low disease pressure. In 2012 this block yielded just over 2.5t/acre, which we were happy with considering some blocks in the northern zone of Seaview were hit by a heavy hail storm in late 2011 losing a significant level of fruit. In saying that, the resultant wines from these blocks were still rich and long.

McLaren Vale received a much needed drink in early February and then another on the 1^st March (60mm/2”). After a challenging 2011, due to rain, some growers became extremely nervous with this second rain event, but thankfully there were no negative effects seen. This second rain was just what the vines needed and the following dry mild weather helped finish this Cabernet’s ripening perfectly.

Vinification & Maturation 

Fermentation was even and on average lasted roughly 9 days with a maximum temperature of 28oC. Total time on skins was 16 days. Upon pressing, the free run and pressings were blended to tank. After 24 hours, the wine was racked to 2-4 year old French barriques for 12 months, during which malolactic fermentation occurred and the wines were racked twice. Prior to bottling the batches were blended and lightly fined, but not filtered.

Technical

Harvested – March 2012
Bottled – April 2013
Alcohol – 14.8%