BLEND

44% Sangiovese, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Barbera

FLAVOUR PROFILE

Deep garnet colour with a lovely bouquet of dark plum and black cherry fruit, mingling with notes of leather, baking spices, earth, mushroom, and smoky oak, plus a warm savoury note. This medium to full-bodied wine has silky tannins, great texture and food-friendly acidity. Blue plum and cherry fruit notes unfold on the palate, complemented by notes of sweet spice and earth. Dark cherry, blackberry, coffee, chocolate and Chai spice notes linger beautifully on the finish.

Serve with grilled red meats; rosemary lamb chops; roasted leg of lamb; rich Rigatoni Bolognese with Parmigiano Reggiano; meaty cheesy lasagna; veal parmesan; cured meats and crusty breads along with Pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano cheese.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Harvested from the Sandhill Estate Vineyard. Gentle crush, then fermented in small open top fermenters. Fermented with a yeast isolated from Brunello fermentations in Italy to bring out the classic Italian character of these varietals (fruit, spice and earth components). Full malolactic fermentation for a supple mouthfeel. Each varietal is aged individually in oak barrels for 18 months, then the top barrels are selected and blended together, then returned to oak barrels for a further 4 months to allow integration in barrel before bottling. Total time in oak is 22 months; French oak foudres and barrels.

Residual Sugar: 0.4 g/L