2014 Shays Flat Cabernet -Tasting Notes

Our Cabernet block is a single 3.68 Ha plot that sits on the Shay’s Flat vineyard, at an altitude of 350m in the Western Pyrenees Ranges and is organically farmed. 

Vintage

The 2014 vintage was cool early and then abundant with sunshine and cool evenings during the growing season which allowed for an even maturation of the grapes.

Soil

A mixture of deep red soil, schist, quartz and clay

Harvesting

Harvested at night in late April to ensure flavour ripeness.

Vinification

The fruit was destemmed and transferred into a concrete tank where it was kept cool. Within a few days the indigenous yeasts started fermentation and the cap was managed through pump overs, twice daily for a period of 5 – 6 weeks to maximise the polymerisation of tannins. The fermentation temperature was naturally kept low by the concrete tanks at around 25C.

Maturing

The wine was gently pressed off skins, ensuring the extraction of only the best quality wine, showing gritty yet supple tannins. A portion of the wine was transferred into French oak puncheons (approx. 40% new oak), and matured for approx. 10 months.

Tasting

Colour: dark, garnet red

Nose: blackberry, red currants, plum, capsicum, spice, cigar box.

Palate: dark fruits and spice with fleshy, supple tannins, medium – full bodied.