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Koomilya

2015

Cabernet Sauvignon – Shiraz

McLaren Vale - Australia
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Steve has a deep love for the classic old Australian wines of the 1960s. It was in this hey-day that Steve says that Australian wines looked more like the vineyard than the hand of the winemaker. It’s with this idea in mind that Steve has brought this classic Aussie blend to bottle. This is predominantly Cabernet from 70-year-old vines planted on Koomilya’s ‘CP Block’ with 20% Shiraz from some of the ‘younger’ vines (though still planted in the 1970s) of the ‘GT block.’

The fruit was hand picked in late February and was cold soaked for one night. The following day the grapes were destemmed and naturally fermented in open top fermenters, which is key to producing the structure of this wine with great complexity. The fruit spent 14 days on skins before being pressed back to tank where it completed alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. After 28 days the wine was racked to 25hL seasoned French oak vats and sulfured. The wine spent 10 months in wood before being bottled without fining or filtration and only a small hit of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon - 20% Shiraz
  • Vineyard: Koomilya Vineyard - CP Block (Cabernet Sauvignon) - GT Block (Shiraz)
  • Vine Age: 70-years-old (Cabernet Sauvignon) - 40-years-old (Shiraz)
  • Soil Type: Ironstone ridden gravel
  • Viticulture: Practicing Organic - Regenerative
  • Fermentation: Native – stainless steel (100% destemmed)
  • Skin Contact: 14 days
  • Aging: 10 months in seasoned 25hL French vats
  • pH: 3.56
  • Total Acidity: 6 g/L
  • Total SO2: 45 ppm
  • Total Production: 250 cases

Tasting Note

There’s been a revival of interest in the classic Australian “claret” style of cabernet shiraz blends, and this is an excellent example: it’s a bright, tangy, elegant wine with attractive aromas of currants and dried herbs, and fine powdery tannins. Like all the Koomilya reds, it will reward extended cellaring.

Press & Reviews

Halliday Wine Companion

95

"80% 70yo cabernet, 20% shiraz, wild yeast-open fermented, 14 days on skins, pressed to 2500l French vats for 10 months maturation. An elegant medium-bodied wine with fine tannins woven through the red fruits of the bouquet and palate. Oak has been used to create texture, not flavour. This wine is 13.2% alcohol, not that stated on the label."
- James Halliday

James Suckling

95

"One of Pannell's greatest talents as a winemaker is his blending, and this is a shining example of a deft touch. The vintage has delivered superbly vibrant red and blue fruits, cassis, blueberries, red plums, raspberries and blackberries. The palate has silky textural appeal, gliding and building layers of fine velvety tannins that hold layers of bright fruit. Deceptively long, powerful and elegant. Drink now or hold." - Nick Stock

The Wine Front

96

"The old 80/20 rule. I’ve not tasted the Shiraz wines, so don’t ask. These wines put me in mind of how Rockford used to taste. Floral, but iodine and earthy, cedar and mint, red and black fruits, baking spice. It’s medium-bodied, soft and supple, such an easy charm and grace about it, fine powdery tannin, inner mouth-perfume, perfect acidity, and a very long finish where the tannin unfurls and shapes up the wine beautifully. Roses and dirt. Bass and treble. Classic Aussie red."
- Gary Walsh

Producer


Koomilya

Region


McLaren Vale

Country


Australia

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