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2021 Pfeiffer Carlyle Cabernet Merlot
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This is a superb wine, with lovely sweet berry and cassis fruit. It is elegant and refined, with a fine, long tannin finish. |
Description
| Availability |
AVAILABLE
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| Grapes |
Cabernet Sauvignon 92%, Merlot 8%
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| Vintage |
2021
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| Seal |
A screw cap has been used on our 2021 Cabernet Merlot to maximise its flavour and freshness, and to eliminate the chances of cork taint.
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| Reviews |
88/100 Halliday Wine Companion 2024
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| Awards |
SILVER: Rutherglen Wine Show 2023
BRONZE: Riverina Wine Show 2023
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| Fruit Sourcing |
Victoria - King Valley, Rutherglen, Great Western, Heathcote
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| Harvest Date |
March and April 2021
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| Vintage |
The growing season got off to a great start, with higher than average rainfall volumes falling in both Winter and Spring, giving us an total annual rainfall of 657mm for the year.
Regular rain events occurred through September to November, with December recording lower than average rainfall. These excellent conditions saw strong canopy growth and average to above average yields developing.
The beginning of summer was dry, yet mild, with only 3 days of temperatures exceeding 40˚C, just prior to Australia Day. This was followed by a significant rain event of around 50mm, which increased the disease pressure on some varieties that were approaching their harvest date.
February and March were also dotted with rain events, with 50mm and 60mm falling respectively, again leaving certain varieties close to harvest susceptible to fruit breakdown. The timing of picking was critical to the overall wine quality.
Overall, the season was around 2 weeks later than usual, with the vintage starting on 17th February with Alpine Valleys Pinot Grigio. The majority of the fruit was harvested in the second half of March, and into April, with rain events around Easter seeing our intake accelerate throughout the month of April, with the last fruit harvested on 30th April.
Quality is good, with white varieties showing lovely aromatics, and plenty of natural acidity, ensuring good longevity in the bottle. The red varieties show a diversity of style, with Shiraz performing well again across multiple sites, and our old vine Pinot Noir and Gamay looking particularly strong.
Our fortified varieties were unfortunately very low yielding and variable in quality. Our Portuguese varieties were affected by late rain, so we made the decision not to pursue a Vintage Fortified from 2021, but we have some real highlights in our Muscat and Muscadelle (for Topaque) from our Carlyle vineyard, which appear destined for our Grand and Rare soleras.
I am sure we will discover more vinous treasures in the cellar as time rolls on.
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| Winemakers Comments |
A blend of four different parcels of fruit, all picked at separate times and thus handled separately in the winery. A cold soak for up to 4 days was given to each parcel. Fermentation either occurred in static fermenters with manual pump overs twice daily. Each ferment was run at temperatures between 20 and 26°C.
A parcel of Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon was pressed at 2ºbe to finish ferment in brand new French oak hogsheads; while the other three parcels finished ferment on skins.
Our Pfeiffer Carlyle Cabernet Merlot 2021 was blended prior to oak maturation, then was matured in a mixture of both French and American oak puncheons, hogsheads and barriques, all of various ages, for approximately 12 months. The wine was blended from oak and clarified prior to bottling in early September 2022.
Our 2021 Pfeiffer Carlyle Cabernet Merlot has a perfumed bouquet of dark fruits, violets and mint. The palate is plush and generous, with juicy fore to mid-palate fruit, leading to a long, lingering finish.
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| Partners |
Butternut Pumpkin and Kale Salad.
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| Cellar |
A delicious wine for drinking now and until 2028.
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| Vegan Friendly |
Vegan NO | Vegetarian YES. Produced with the aid of egg products and traces may remain.
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| Yeast |
FX10 – A yeast which enhances colour and heightens the fruit character of the grapes, and builds mouthfeel in the wine.
XR – A yeast strain that enhances varietal characters of full bodied red wines.
Lalvin Clos – a strong fermenter, chosen for its high alcohol tolerance and its ability to enhance mouthfeel, structure and complexity.
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| Allergens |
Preservative (220) Added.
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| Technical Details |
Res. Sugar .65 g/L
pH 3.61
TA 6.09 g/L
Alcohol 14.5 % v/v |
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