Cabernet Merlot 2004

This wine is primarily driven by the strength and subtlety of our Margaret River cabernet sauvignon (75%), softened by merlot (20%) and intensified with a small addition of cabernet franc (5%). Fruit of unusual intensity was produced by meticulous viticulture including bunch thinning, and leaf plucking, and was hand picked at optimal ripeness. Our cabernet merlot winemaker, Janice McDonald, combined traditional and modern viticulture techniques with part maturation in French oak barriques to produce a wine which is ready for drinking now, but will benefit from cellaring for another 2-3 years. The nose is characterised by freshly crushed red berries, with a hint of cassis. There is a mouth filling flavour with well-balanced fruit sweetness and tannins, and a hint of tobacco and cedar. The result is a rich and elegant but approachable wine typical of the great cabernet merlot styles of Margaret River. REVIEWS & AWARDS Cabernet Merlot 2004  This wine achieved Gold medal status at the QANTAS wine Show 2007 and was ranked equal top wine in its class in the recent Winestate recommendations for 2008 releases. Cabernet Merlot 2003 Winestate Magazine Best Wines of 2005 New Releases.Lovely, sweet, fresh, black currant fruit and excellent use of toasty oak make this a stylish wine that will improve further with some time. Easy on the palate 5 stars. One of the better cabernet merlots I have tasted at this price. Loaded with ripe sappy blackcurrant and rich plum pudding characters. The palate is fleshy and soft with a delicious sweet plump fruit character and just a little cedary oak complexity. Nice drinking. 90/100. Ray Jordan Guide to Wine 2005/2006. This wine comes from a newish family vineyard in Margaret River (established 1997). It’s a vibrant red, juicy and bursting with flavour-brambles, blackcurrant, dark plums-smooth texture and neatly integrated finish.  Quaff 2007 Peter Forrestal .