2014 Malbec

Malbec

Clare Valley

Red meat

2014

Deep red and purple.

Beautifully perfumed with black cherry and plum. Lifted aromatic violets and oak spice.

Rich and full-bodied with complex layers. Inky fruit with blackberry, currants and sweet spice.

7+ years.

The Malbec is from the O’Leary Walker Wines block situated in Watervale. The soil profile of red loam over limestone, with a westerly aspect is hand-pruned and hand-picked and relies only on the natural rainfall. The limestone is able to retain moisture and assist the vine throughout periods of warm weather, almost drought-proofing in the summer months. Viticultural practices include vertical shoot positioning which not only encourages even ripening but provides important shade to prevent the impact of sunburn on the resultant wine.  

Small batch ferment in two and four tonne fermenters over a 12 day period using natural yeast and hand-plunged. The wine was left on skins post fermentation, for an additional 15 days to enhance tannin complexity maximising flavour and length. Pressed to tank then racked to oak after four days (25% new French oak; 75% one- and two-year-old French oak) for a total of two years.

Alcohol - 14.5%

pH - 3.47

Acidity - 6.9g/L