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Joshua Cooper

2020

“Shay’s Flat”

Cabernet Sauvignon   |   Pyrenees - Australia
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Josh has a distinct soft spot for the Cabernet wines produced in the 70’s and 80’s by the pioneering wineries of Central and Western Victoria, many of which seem ageless even now. The Shay’s Flat Vineyard is situated on an elevated and picturesque ridge in the heart of the Pyrenees. It’s a distinctively Australian setting with the vineyard surrounded by wheat paddocks, native bushland and scrub. The 20+ year old vines are rooted deep into mineral rich shale, quartz and mudstone soils, growing powerful, yet detailed fruit.

Once hand harvested the fruit was kept intact and partially foot crushed before transferred to open fermenters where it remained for three weeks. The must was allowed to soak until natural fermentation commenced and was then extracted with a combination pf pumping over, delestage and pigeage before a gentle basket pressing. Elevage took place in a combination of new Stockinger 300L (30% new) and seasoned thin staved Bordeaux coopered barriques for 12 months, before an additional four months in stainless-steel after assemblage. It was bottled without fining or filtration and just a small addition of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Vineyard: Shay's Flat Vineyard - Landsborough Valley
  • Vine Age: 21-years-old
  • Soil Type: Shale, sandstone, quartz, and clay
  • Viticulture: Certified biodynamic
  • Fermentation: Native – stainless--steel fermenters (100% whole-cluster)
  • Skin Contact: 50 days
  • Aging: 12 months in Stockinger 300L hogshead (30% new) then 4 months in stainless-steel
  • Alcohol: 14.5%
  • pH: 3.9
  • Total Acidity: 5.7 g/L
  • Total SO2: 50 ppm
  • Total Production: 150 cases

Tasting Note

Deep, dark purple. Reticent on opening, aeration shows intense sour cherry and cassis, mulberry, lavender and black olive with a sweet mint top note and alluring graphite complexity. A compact and palate opens with time to reveal deep dark berry and cherry fruit, before a rumble of fine layered tannin and cleansing acidity with a persistent trial of graphite, dark cocoa and Dutch licorice.

Press & Reviews

James Suckling

94

"This is a medium-bodied cabernet that has fresh and approachable style with red and black currants and a subtle, leafy edge. Medium body. Good concentration of cherry and plum flavors and a finely groomed tannin texture. Drink over the next eight years."
- James Suckling

The Wine Front

94

"This is right on the money, luncheon Claret in essence. Evocative, blue fruit, lavender, eucalyptus and mahogany scents, succulent texture yet plush and medium weight too. More cassis to taste, chocolate, cherry, mint/eucalyptus faintly and hazelnut savouriness in tow. Tannins swish softly and yet then with gentle authority, finishing the wine with light chews and chomps amongst fresh, leafy acidity. This is fantastic. Come hither cabernet with detail and drinkability on show."
- Mike Bennie

Producer


Joshua Cooper

Region


Pyrenees

Country


Australia

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