Forest Hill Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Alcohol: 14.0%
Colour: Dark crimson with purple hues
Nose: Aromas of blackberries, florals, dark chocolate and bay leaf.
Palate: The palate is plush and medium bodied with blackcurrant, savoury and spicy flavors. Fine and long tannin structure.
Vintage Conditions:
The 2018 growing season in Mount Barker began a little early and with strong vigour spurred on by very good soil moisture from winter rains. The last major rain event was in September with 137mm falling setting up our dry grown
vineyards for the season. Summer was dry although with moderate day time temperatures and very few days exceeding 30C. There was very little disease pressure and cool night time temperatures helped maintain natural
acidity. Harvest dates were generally early across most varieties although more pronounced in the reds.
Winemaking:
The fruit was hand-picked over several small picks then de-stemmed/crushed, chilled into mostly open fermenters. Initial cold soak and then inoculated. The fermenters were pumped over with aeration twice a day. The wine was then pressed to French barriques (25% new) for its Malo-lactic fermentation, allowing a soft integration of the grape and oak tannins. The wine was blended, fined with egg whites and bottled after 12 months maturation.
Vineyards: Forest Hill Vineyard, Block 5, 6 and 7, all Planted 1975. Component of younger vine Block 10, planted at higher density.
Growing Area & Soils & Farming: Forest Hill, Mount Barker in the Great Southern. Gravel, loams over clay. Dry Grown, Minimal inputs. Row orientation is
North-South.