Old Olive Block 2005

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

From one of our best ever vintages, this is our ‘Cabernets’ dominant Reserve label. A classic Bordeaux style, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. This wine has a wonderful nose and the palate is generous, warm and spicy with complex flavours of cassis and plum. Savoury cedar oak and long soft tannins finish this wine beautifully. Age from 3 to 12 years, earlier for a more fruit driven style.

WINEMAKING INFORMATION

The grapes were all hand picked from a mixture of our estate 20 year old vines and some fruit from Gimblett Road. The fruit was crushed and de-stemmed to 2000 litre tanks, cold macerated for 3 days and fermented with a mixture of wild and inoculated yeasts. Temperatures reached 32ºC with 4 hourly hand plunging and daily rack and returns. The wine then spent 28 days undergoing extended maceration, then was pressed to barrels for 20 months ageing.

The individual components were fermented separately and then blended at 12 months, undergoing 8 months ageing as a single parcel. The wine is made from 44% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Continuing the tradition of this red, named after the centre vineyard containing an Olive tree originating from the time of the first planting of the vineyard in 1915. “Old Olive Block” has had a loyal following since arriving in 1994 and has collected numerous accolades in its time, the 1998 vintage securing 5 Gold Medals.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

TA 6.3 pH 3.5 13% alcohol