2022 Sandalford Margaret River Range Cabernet Merlot
Medium to full bodied and elegant in structure, the generous sweet red fruits, plum skin, and oak nuances are balanced with subtle savoury spice. The firm, fine grained tannin structure is well balanced providing length to the finish. This classic Bordeaux blend will cellar for up to 10 years adding complexity with bottle age.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
The two varieties were harvested separately during the cool of night in mid-April and destemmed to static fermenters. A select yeast isolate was used in the primary fermentation and lasted for 10 days with pump overs used twice daily during this period to ensure optimum extraction of colour, flavour and tannins. The wine was then drained and pressed to tank for malolactic fermentation before maturation in a combination of tank and seasoned French oak barrels before blending, fining and bottling.
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
Deep ruby red with youthful garnet hues.
Nose
Production
Blackcurrant and red berry fruits overlaying plum skin, potpourri, wild mint and bay leaf nuances. Oak spice, chocolate box and cedar notes derived from French oak maturation adding to the appeal.
Palate
Tasting Note
Medium to full bodied and elegant in structure, the generous sweet red fruits, plum skin, and oak nuances are balanced with subtle savoury spice. The firm, fine grained tannin structure is well balanced providing length to the finish. This classic Bordeaux blend will cellar for up to 10 years adding complexity with bottle age.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
The 2022 vintage could be best described as challenging. A reflection of the wetter than average summer impacting picking decisions. Our Wilyabrup vineyard however fared well and produced fresh, bright, flavoursome fruit to make wines from. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes were machine harvested separately in the cool of the night and were phonologically ripe at the time of picking. The resulting wines are fresh, balanced and display wonderful varietal fruit characteristics.
