Angove McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Australia)

Description

Blackcurrant, Chocolate, Oak

Sophisticated yet commanding, this wine shows a dense, inky centre framed by lively purple hues. Aromas of dark chocolate, fresh mint, and delicate sandalwood unfold on the nose, preceding a palate brimming with blackcurrant, graphite, and a subtle touch of capsicum. Silky, well-integrated tannins and finely judged French oak bring poise and length, carrying through to an elegant, lingering finish.

Sourced from two distinctive sites in McLaren Vale. The primary Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard lies on the exposed, slate-laden slopes of Sellicks Hill, overlooking Gulf St Vincent, contributing depth, structure, and minerality. Complementing this is fruit from Blewitt Springs, where deep sandy soils nurture grapes with lifted aromatics and finesse.

Good winter and early spring rains were followed by a generally dry and temperate growing season. Mild conditions during flowering, particularly for the later ripening varieties, resulted in good fruit set. Canopies developed well and were balanced with yields sitting around the long-term average. We started harvest in early February and finished mid-April. Slow and steady ripening, without excessive heat events, resulted in superb varietal fruit intensity with balanced natural acidity and fine tannin structures. The grapes arrived at the winery in a steady manner allowing us the time to carefully craft each wine in an unhurried way. The 2022 McLaren Vale vintage was simply outstanding and the resulting wines a joy to craft.

Grapes were harvested in early February and gently destemmed with an emphasis on preserving whole berries. A cold soak helped extract colour and fine tannins ahead of fermentation, which was carried out using a carefully selected yeast strain. The ferment was allowed to gradually warm to 25°C and held at that temperature until dry, with daily pump-overs for gentle extraction. Individual parcels were matured for 12 months in seasoned French oak (second and third use), allowing site expression to guide the final blend.