Sutherland Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (6/case) (R134/BOTTLE)

The dark fruit flavours and cassis on the nose are a prequel to the refreshing sweet fruit and ripe tannins the palate delivers. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months and will reward cellaring.

 

Maturation

 

Good now, but will improve for 5 years.

 

Food Pairing

 

Red meat (especially game), strong cheeses.

 

VITICULTURAL PRACTICES

 

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Root stock: 101-14

Soil type: Tukulu / Glenrosa

Age of vines: Planted 2005

Plant density: 2300 vines/ha

Trellising: 7 wire Perold with moveable foliage wires

Pruning: Spur

Yield: 9.7 – 10.5t/ha

Irrigation: Supplementary drip

Vintage: Very hot and dry vintage, resulting in an early start to the picking, with different varieties ripening the same time. It was a tough vintage for the winery crew.

Picking date: 13 – 20th March 2013

Grape sugar: 24.75 – 25

Balling Acidity: 5.2 – 6.5 g/l

pH at harvest: 3.3 – 3.47

 

WINEMAKING PRACTICES

 

Yeasts: Natural occurring yeasts

Fermentation temp: 28 °C

Method:

De-stalked, hand sorting of berries, crushed, pumped into s/s tanks, pumped over for 7 days, pressed and racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation. 18 months in 25% new oak, balance in older barrels. Wines were fermented separately.

 

WINE DETAILS:

 

Residual sugar 2.1 g/l

pH 3.54

Total acid 5.3 g/l

Alcohol 14.0 %

Maturation 2017 – 2022

 

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS:

 

The dark fruit flavours and cassis on the nose are a prequel to the refreshing sweet fruit and ripe tannins the palate delivers. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months and will reward cellaring.