2020 Sandalford Winemakers Cabernet Merlot
The Winemakers Range is all about delivering quite simply the best Western Australian wine at the best price. These wines are typically a blend of both the Margaret River and Swan Valley wine growing regions. The riper, richer notes from the Swan Valley compliment the elegant and sophisticated flavours from the cooler climate of Margaret River. These wines are about imminent drinkability and crafted to suit a wide range of food. Or simply enjoy a glass on its own. As always, enjoy in moderation.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
This wine was made from a blend of Cabernet and Merlot grapes grown on our Swan Valley and Margaret River vineyards. Fruit was machine picked in the cool of the night and transported to the winery for processing. The fruit was destemmed to static fermenters and cold macerated for four days before inoculation with a select yeast isolate. Fermentation on skins lasted for 10 days before pressing to tank at dryness. A portion of the wine was put to oak for 12 months maturation before blending and further maturation in tank. Well suited to a wide range of foods, or simply enjoy on its own.
Meet the maker
By the time I turned 18, I had become fascinated with wine. I was keen to learn as much about wine as I could and I received some great advice: to work in the industry before committing to any tertiary study....
Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Tasting notes
Varietals
Varietal
Cabernet Merlot
Colour
Other Notes
Dark cherry red.
Nose
Production
Berries and currant.
Palate
Tasting Note
Generous sweet fruit flavours, particularly the darker berries, but also plums and rhubarb balanced with subtle savoury oak. The firm, fine grained tannin structure is well balanced providing length to the wine. This classic Bordeaux blend will continually cellar well in the medium term.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
2020 was a vintage like no other. Whilst a global pandemic changed the way people lived their lives, Western Australia experienced a near perfect vintage. The preceding Spring growing season was warmer than average resulting in earlier bud burst and grape development. Grape yields were lower than average which led to one of the earliest harvests on record. The near perfect growing season allowed the winemakers to harvest fruit at optimal flavour and sugar ripeness. The resulting red wines are deeply coloured and display wonderful intensity and depth of flavour as a consequence of the low fruit yields.
