2017 ‘The Ace’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot

Composition
63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot

Tasting Note
A deep, dark, ruby red wine with a crimson rim. The aromatics are dominated with herbal notes, especially bay leaf with an undercurrent of red berries and characters of cedary oak. The palate is long and elegant showcasing blackcurrant fruits and a little spice. The lineal acid and high quality 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 foot stomped then left until wild ferment started, then whole bunch fermented to give layers of complexity. The malbec portion undergoes a 10% drain off to concentrate tannin and give the wine more drive and finally the cab sauv portion uses for the first time both of our clones (Houghtons and Margeaux from Bordeaux in France). 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 30% 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
2030

Food Match
Pair with medium rare rack of lamb or vintage cheddar.