WINE MAKING
The hand-picked grapes were carefully selected from intensely managed, low-yielding, estate-owned Clark Farm Vineyard and Carlton Vineyard. The grapes were fermented in four-ton wooden fermenters. After fermentation was complete and the desired colour, tannin and structure was achieved, the wine was drained from each wooden fermenter by gravity, directly into oak barriques. Then a “Dripper Barrel” was placed under the wooden fermenter and the remaining wine, over a twelve-hour period, slowly dripped from the fermenter (one barrel total volume per four ton fermenter); these last few drips slowly worked their way through the remaining grape skins in the fermenter, collecting even more tannin, colour and structure, and it is this final highly prized collection of wine that goes into the limited edition Grand Red. Each varietal was barrel aged separately in 100% French oak barrels for 12 months, prior to creating the final assemblage, and underwent barrel malolactic fermentation. The assemblage consists of equal amounts of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot (three 225 litre oak barrels of each varietal). The wine was then aged for a further 6 months (a total of 18 months in barrel). The wine was bottled with minimal filtration for greater complexity. Only produced in classic vintages.
FLAVOUR PROFILE
Bright purple garnet colour with a warming bouquet of sweet Chai spice, oak, earth, leather, and black pepper, mingling with fruit notes of black currant spread, black cherry, and baked blue plum. This full-bodied Grand Red has an elegant side, along with firm but not aggressive tannins, great structure, and moderate acidity. Look for wonderful mid-palate flavours of currant, blackberry, cherry, spice, and oak. Black tea, ripe dark fruits, sweet spice, and oak notes linger through on the extra-dry finish.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve at a cool room temperature of 18°C. An elegant dinner wine for medium-rare grilled steak with red wine jus; rack of lamb; grilled lamb chops; prime rib roast with root vegetables; rich game meats; two to four-year-old Canadian Cheddar cheese with walnuts and crackers; 70% dark chocolate. Drink now until 2030. Decanting is recommended if drinking before 2025.