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Blue-black fruits and dried herb. Long fine tannins.

HOUGHTON C.W. Ferguson Cabernet Malbec, Great Southern

Vibrant in the glass deep purple with bright red edges. The nose is complex and expressive. A mix of red, blue, purple fruits the blend of varieties reflected in the broader spectrum. Oak though present is not imposing itself. Remarkably fragrant. Savoury notes in the tobacco and cedar zone add interest. Complex structure and great length created by the blend of varieties, a wine to try now but also one to cellar.

Frankland Estate Olmo's Reward, named after Dr Harold Olmo who first identified viticultural potenital of the isolated Frankland River region, is an elegant blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot and small components of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The concentrated palate has fine grained tannins, dark chocolates and savoury earthy notes leading to a generous and long finish.

Grape variety - 100% Shiraz. Oak maturation - 40% new and 60% older French. notes. Colour - Deep red with purple hue. Aroma - Concentrated with bacon fat, pepper, lifted florals and incense. There’s an underlying meaty-gravy complexity with balanced oak, mulberry and plum. Palate - Full with a dense texture and fine grain tannins. The palate is loaded with pepper, beef gravy, potpourri, black raspberry, mulberry and plum. A complex, savoury and elegant wine that’s more Syrah than Shiraz Food matches - Seared prime beef and roasted root vegetables or Fillet of venison with wild mushrooms. Peak drinking - Drinking well now but will show further integration over the next 8 - 10 years. Viticulture - The Home Block Shiraz vineyard comprises 0.7 ha of open lyre, minimal irrigated vines planted on ironstone gravel over deep friable loam. Judicious shoot and bunch thinning is always used to maintain a very light crop which was hand picked in early March of 2021. Harvested at 12.5º Baume the fruit exhibited intensely concentrated flavour and colour. Winemaking - The hand picked fruit was harvested early in the morning and processed straight away. 5% whole bunches, including stalks were placed into the bottom of the fermenter before filling. The remaining fruit was de stemmed into the small open fermenter with heading down board, which keeps the cap fully submerged between drain and returns. After nine days of fermentation, the fruit was pressed into a blend of new and used French Burgundian barrels. Storage and Bottling - Maturation lasted 11 months before the wine was carefully blended and bottled. Bottled under screw cap to retain freshness in a premium Burgundy bottle. Held in bottle for approximately 1 year prior to release.

Deep purple in colour this wine is lifted and spicy. The palate does not hold back, deep, spicy potpourri and abundant tannins will see many years reward.

Nose Blue and red fruits. Satsuma plum and pink musk stick. Rose petal and dried herb, with a white pepper. Palate Raspberry and cherries, with hints of plum and spice. Generous full palate with bold yet elegant tannins. Growing Conditions Margaret River experienced warmth throughout the 2020 grape growing season. Early start of harvest and reds ripening two weeks ahead of the long-term average.