2024 Sandalford Estate Reserve Malbec
Black fruits, plum and subtle oak flavours are framed by plush tannin’s and a soft, fine acid structure which is in balance with the fruit. The tannins, which contribute to the wine's structure, are smooth and velvety. There is a nice structure and softness to the wine which makes for appealing drinking now. This wine will also reward cellaring over the next five to ten years.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
Malbec is a French Bordeaux grape variety typically used in blends as a minor component to improve the colour and depth of base wines. As a single varietal, the wines display a dark fruit profile of plum, blackberry and dark cherry fruit. The grapes grown for making this wine are from the original Sandalford Vineyard in Wilyabrup, Margaret River. Machine harvested fruit was de-stemmed to small open fermenters and then fermented with native yeasts. Following ten days on skins, the wine was pressed off to tank, settled, then racked to French oak barriques (20% new) for maturation. Following 14 months maturation, the wine was blended and included a small percentage of Shiraz (11%) to provide interest and complexity. No finings. And the wine was filtered before bottling.
Tasting notes
Varietals
Varietal
Malbec, Shiraz
Colour
Other Notes
Deep red with purple hues.
Nose
Production
Black cherry, Satsuma plum, blackberries, chocolate box and cocoa. There is an overlay of savoury spice, rose petal, and floral violet notes adding complexity.
Palate
Tasting Note
Black fruits, plum and subtle oak flavours are framed by plush tannin’s and a soft, fine acid structure which is in balance with the fruit. The tannins, which contribute to the wine's structure, are smooth and velvety. There is a nice structure and softness to the wine which makes for appealing drinking now. This wine will also reward cellaring over the next five to ten years.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
The spring season preceding the 2024 vintage was drier than usual with rainfall down 23% below average and the warmest spring temperatures on record for Western Australia. The weather pattern remained hot and dry leading into summer with temperatures well above average. Flowering, veraison, and ripening all occurred very early which led to vintage commencing a month earlier than normal. Sandalford began picking their white fruit in the first week of January – the earliest start on record.
