Cabernet Franc - 2005

Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Franc

McLaren Vale, Australia

Tasting Note: 100% McLaren Vale fruit - Estate grown.

COLOUR: Dark brick red with vibrant purple hues.

AROMA: Lifted spicy aroma of mint & berry fruit with a hint of oak vanillin in the background.

PALATE: The aromas carry through to the palate which amplifies the intense berry fruit & spicy flavours that keep lingering on. A medium bodied structure with fine long grained tannins. Concentrated flavours add to the wine’s overall complexity.

AWARDS

McLaren Vale W.S. - Bronze

WBM Magazine Review - 93 pts

Nick Stock [Penguin] - 91 pts

Wine Background

 

Vineyard Site

Sand 350 to 600mm deep over clay. North side hills of McLaren Vale

Planted

1988, 1 acre block

Trellis

Wide spaced double cordon, 900mm apart allowing good fruit spacing,

plenty of light and good air movement.

Irrigation

Drip @ 12 litres a vine every 4 days.

Season

The sort of season that makes McLaren Vale such a great region.

Good winter & spring rains followed by a generally moderate temperature

summer.

Harvest

Picked March 31 2005

14.9 Be. 4.5 tonnes to the acre.

Winemaking

Fermented in 2 tonne open fermenters with heading down boards,

temperature controlled to 18 to 22 degrees. Ferment period 8 days.

Pressed out in a basket press.

Maturation

This was over 22 months in American barriques using a mix of cooperages

and age of barrels. New barrels were 25%, the rest between 2 and

4 years old. The mix of cooperages creates greater complexity through

the variation in their toasting styles and oak sources. The varying age

of wood ensures the wine is not wood dominated.

Bottled

June 27 2007

14.5% Alc. 3.43 pH, 6.8 TA