GISBORNE GARAGISTE WINE COMPANY
CABERNET MERLOT MALBEC 2013
VITICULTURE
This
wine was made using a blend of Merlot and Malbec from the Whitmore Vineyard in the
Ormond region of Gisborne and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Redstone Vineyard in
Hawkes Bay. These
vineyard blocks all achieved optimal ripeness
in the warm autumn ripening period
in 2013 with excellent colour and ripe tannins.
HARVEST DETAILS
The fruit for this wine was harvested between the 3rd
and 13th of April as each variety reached optimum condition. The
average brix was 22.6 and the blend comprises one third of each variety.
WINEMAKING NOTES
Made from selected batches and vinted by Garagiste’s Russell Walsh at the Indevin Winery in
Gisborne. Following harvest the grapes were crushed to small open top
fermenters. They were then fermented in
the traditional manner plunging the
skins to gently extract colour and tannin. Once malolactic fermentation was
complete the Merlot and Malbec were filled to French barriques. The Cabernet was taken off.
Skins close to the end of ferment and finished fermentation
in new French oak which comprised 33% of the blend. The separate components
remained in barrels with regular racking
for 18 months. At every stage of maturation the components
showed class and finesse and as a result the final wine required no fining and
was bottled with minimal intervention.
TASTING NOTES
With
a dark, inky colour this is an approachable wine with blackberry, cassis, spice
and liquorice aromas complemented with savoury oak. The palate is full-bodied with bright,
concentrated red fruit, velvety tannins from the length of time maturing in oak
and a long finish.
WINE ANALYSIS
|
Alcohol
|
Titratable Acidity
|
pH
|
Residual sugar
|
|
13.4%
|
6.85g/L
|
3.52
|
<2.0 g/L
|
FOOD MATCH
Somewhat surprisingly, this wine was found to
be an excellent match with indian spiced dishes such as cardamom infused
chickpea curry. As a general rule the weighty tannins in this wine require
robust flavours to find harmony and the usual red wine matches of red meat and
game will prove to match well.
CELLARING
With excellent acidity and a solid
tannin backbonethis wine will improve over several years and keep for up to 15.
