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The Ace

The Ace

$65.00

2016 ‘The Ace’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot

Composition
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 25% Petit Verdot

Tasting Note
A deep and dark ruby red wine with a purple rim. The aromatics are dominated with lifted plum, mulberry and violets characters with hints of oak, earth and leather. The palate is rich and intense with ripe blue fruits and spice dominating. The lineal acid and chewy tannins combine to round out the palate and give length and drive.

Winemaking
Our flagship wine. A blend of cab sauv, malbec and petit verdot grapes. The very best example of each varietal blended to produce a complex and layered wine. The petit verdot portion is 100% whole bunch fermented to add spice and complexity. The malbec portion undergoes a 10% drain off to concentrate tannin content and the cab sauv portion remains on skins to draw complexity from skins and seeds. We use a mixture of open top and barrel fermentation which is hand plunged four times daily. The wine is manually basket pressed then is matured in 50% new French oak for 18 months. We choose our coopers based on their ability to increase the structure of the wine without overpowering the palate and aromatics.

Cellar
2037

Food Match
Pair with medium rare venison or vintage cheddar.

SKU: HC0001

96/100 Points / Ray Jordan

This is a blend of cabernet, malbec and petit verdot. A tightly packed and controlled red blend with deep fruit penetration and power. Strikes a perfect balance and displays such a seamlessly structured palate profile with slick integration of oak and tannins supporting the concentrated and intense fruit. Bright and lively with depth and poise. Excellent.

95 Points / James Halliday / Halliday Wine Companion 2018

50% cabernet sauvignon, 25% each of malbec and petit verdot, 20% drained off the cabernet portion, open-fermented, 35 days extended skin contact, 50% whole bunch inclusion in the petit verdot ferment, 50% of the cabernet and malbec barrel-fermented, all matured for 18 months in French barriques (50% new). Full crimson-purple; juicy, vibrant and long. Due for release Nov ’17, tasted end Mar ’17, and will benefit from the extra 6 months bottle age. But even as it is, shows its class and finesse on the long palate, finished with balanced, fine, savoury tannins.