Ashbrook Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 13.5% 750ML

Ashbrook Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 13.5% 750ML

Tasting Notes

Vintage notes
The 2017 growing season at Ashbrook was typified by warm sunny days and cool nights. A hail event in early Spring reduced the volume of the early varietals like Chardonnay but intensified characteristics. Once again disease pressure was minimal due to Ashbrook’s predominantly lyre trellis system. A bumper and lengthy Marri blossom meant silver-eye bird damage was negligible for the earlier varietals however all nets were unrolled for the later varietals as it unfortunately did not carry through. All said and done the white varieties were harvested at optimum flavour ripeness. Yields were back to our traditional volumes but most importantly the quality was impeccable. The 2017 wines will have lower alcohol levels due to the lack of any heat waves before or during vintage so the result is wines with an elegance and fullness, magnificent!

Vinification
Our Reserve Cabernet fruit is hand-harvested over several days in the cool of dawn from mature, dry grown, Wilyabrup grapevines (planted 1976). Destemmed berries are cold soaked before temperature-controlled fermentation in 4 tonne open vats, plunged gently many times a day. Post-fermentation the wine is matured in 100% premium French oak barriques for 22 months before blending. The Reserve Cabernet is crafted from barrels (35% new) exhibiting exceptional mature Wilyabrup Cabernet characters then bottled and aged in our underground cellar for a minimum of two years before release.

Region notes
The “Old Cab” Houghton clone cuttings were collected from the Agricultural Department ‘Source Block’ in the Swan Valley and planted in 1976. Due to its ultimate suitability to the region and increased demand, the “Young Cab” was planted in 1998 from the original vines on the Estate. The “Old Cab” was originally all VSP grown but converted to cane pruned, with +90% Lyre trellis in 1998 with immediate and brilliant results. Coupled with the application of composted mulch, for the past 8 years, the vineyard shows remarkable health and balance producing super premium fruit year in year out.

Grape variety
Cabernet Sauvignon