2020 Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine has a dark red appearance with a scarlet hue. The bouquet is intense with distinct characteristics of the Batley vineyard. Aromas of cassis, plum and milk chocolate combine with bay leaf, thyme and cigar box notes. French oak maturation enhances the complex bouquet with vanillin, pastry and subtle spice. The palate is full bodied and highly structured. This wine shows classic varietal characters of cassis, dark berry fruits and tobacco. The palate is fruit driven with fine firm tannins. The French oak maturation brings complexity, texture and length to the wine. FOOD SUGGESTION Enjoy with a Char grilled steak, rich beef based dishes or hard cheeses

The fruit was hand picked to maximise quality and to allow sorting of the fruit in the winery. Fermented in open top fermenters with indigenous yeast for ten days the wine was gently pressed off skins in a basket press, to complete malolactic fermentation in French oak. Following malolactic fermentation, the wine spent a further 15 months maturation in new, 1 year old and seasoned French oak barriques. This is a small volume wine that was handled separately through its life and speaks of the vineyard site where the grapes were grown.