12,000 Miles CABERNET FRANC MALBEC MERLOT 2009

In the vineyard

This Wairarapa Bordeaux style wine is blended from Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot.  The fruit was all hand harvested from the Dakins Road blocks of our estate vineyards. 

In the winery

The Merlot and Malbec was picked and then vinified together. The Cabernet Franc component was picked about a week later to achieve greater levels of ripeness and flavour. The batched were hand plunged daily and received two weeks post ferment skin contact to get optimal tannin structure and flavour.

pH 3.66;TA 5.5g/l;rs 0.1g/l;Alc 13.9%

In the glass

The wine has a nose of ripe blackberry, violets and English tea. A softer red cherry and clove dominated spice follows after. The palate is juicy and full of fleshy fruit but still has firm, supple tannins to give the wine body and tightness.  Drink it now or cellar for up to four years.