All fruit parcels were selectively machine harvested or hand picked before being crushed or tipped directly into open fermenters for a few days soaking on skins. Once the wild ferment kicked in, we started plunging and doing pump-overs for subtle tannin extraction. The individual batches were fermented around 22-28 degrees, pressed and then transferred into new and used French oak barrels for maturation. After 14 months in 35% new French oak the Cabernet Sauvignon was blended, fined and bottled.
This is our first 100% Cabernet Sauvignon under the Flametree label. The nose is typically aromatic, showing mulberry, redcurrants and chocolate notes. The palate shows ripe, fleshy varietal Cabernet fruit in the cassis and mulberry spectrum supported by fine chocolatey tannins. Cabernet provides great fragrance, complexity and structure all in the one package. A wine that can be consumed as a young fruit driven wine or cellared with confidence over the medium to long term. Cellar 5-10 years.
Hand-picked and Selectiv'-harvested, matured for 14 months in French (35% new). A classy wine, all the inputs precisely balanced.
95 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au 1 August 2020