Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Barossa Valley
Vineyards: Three Springs Vineyards
Oak: New & twice aged French oak puncheons
Analysis:
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
pH: 3.54
Titratable acid: 6.1g/L
Food Pairing: Braised beef cheeks
Cellaring: Drink now to 2030
Deep ruby, purple in colour. Vibrant aromas of plums, cassis, and violet flowers. On the palate, the same intense, bright notes of plums and dark cherries appear again where they are joined by hints of dark chocolate and fleeting glimpses of savoury bay leaves, star anise and dried tobacco leaf. A well resolved, subtle tannin frame then works in the background and provides just enough edging to the wine to keep it travelling to a focused end point.
Layered, balanced and bright.
Harvested and then crushed into traditional open top fermenters. The wine undergoes pre-fermentation cold soak and is then either gently pumped over to obtain optimal colour and retain complex fruit flavours. Additional post fermentation maceration usually occurs before the wine is drained and pressed to barrel. Free run and pressings are usually kept separate and a combination of new and aged oak barrels are used for a maturation of between 18-24 months. The wine is then blended from a combination of single vineyard shiraz that has been aged separately in French oak.
The Three Springs vineyard is where the original Schild family estate is located. Situated on historic Narrow Road at Rowland Flat, this vineyard sits at 380 metres above sea level. Vineyards at this altitude are traditionally much lower yielding than vineyards planted on the Barossa Valley floor meaning the grapes from these vines are regarded as higher quality fruit.
2020 was a year of two halves. The early growing season was marked by lower than- average winter and spring rainfall followed by a spell of unseasonal warmth which arrived in late November. Both influences contributed to restrict the crop to one of the smallest in recent history. However, the second half of the season was marked by almost ideal conditions prevailing though late January and February. These allowed the grapevines to relax and flavours to develop slowly and steadily towards the onset of harvest ensuring the season came home with gusto. Not much wine was produced as a result of the small yields, but that which was shows exceptional quality and 2020 is a particularly strong year for Cabernet Sauvignon
