2017 Third Reef Cabernet Sauvignon

WINEMAKING

The fruit was machine picked then destemmed/crushed int0 small open fermenters and inoculated. The fermenters were pumped over with aeration twice a day, temperature was held around 25°C, then allowed to warm up for a long post fermentation maceration. The wine was then transferred in barrel for its malo-lactic fermentation, allowing a soft integration of the grape and oak tannins. The wine was fined with egg whites then bottled after 10 months maturation.

FOOD PAIRING

Dellendale Creamery Peaceful Bay Gruyere and Scotsdale Beef burger with Somerset Hill mushrooms on local sourdough.

VINTAGE NOTES

2017 started well with good flowering giving us hope of a good cropping year after the small 2016 vintage. It ended slowly and as with any vintage changing many times along the way.

March arrived as did the rain causing everyone concern thankfully not as heavily as some other areas. The weather cooled heading into April but the sun came out and slowly reds ripened and now picked and in tank looking good with many excellent parcels throughout all varieties.

2017 was a long and interesting vintage, fruit staying on vines many weeks later than previous years creating great flavour development.