Ashbrook Estate Margaret River Shiraz 2018 14% 750ml

Ashbrook Estate Margaret River Shiraz 2018 14% 750ml

Tasting Notes
Aroma
The inviting nose bursts with ripe raspberry, redcurrant and cherry plum fruit leather aromas with hints of violet and sweet spice.

Palate
Fine tannins, a succulent depth of flavour and balanced acidity result in a wine that is extremely easy to drink and a wonderful food wine. An exciting wine to lie down too!

Vinification
Grapes were hand-picked over several mornings to capture the full flavor spectrum of our Shiraz site. All bunches were destemmed and berry-sorted. Four-tonne parcels of pure berries were cold soaked, inoculated and gently plunged every three hours in temperaturecontrolled, open, stainless steel fermenters. After desired extraction the wine was gently pressed off skins to complete AF and MLF in tank prior to ageing in 100% premium French oak barriques (15% new) for a minimum of 18 months. After blending, filtration and bottling the wine further matures in our underground, climate-controlled cellar before release.

Vintage notes
The 2017/18 growing season was up there with one of Margaret River’s best. Our Wilyabrup weather station recorded higher than average rainfall from June to September. Low rainfall, warm temperatures and moderate winds in October and November were perfect conditions for flowering and fruit set across all varieties. Rain events in December and mid-January helped refresh the vines and were followed by dry, warm conditions. Thanks to Margaret River’s quintessential cool summer nights and no heat events, maximum temperatures remained below average from early December until early April ensuring a steady ripening period. Ample Red Gum blossom and the application of nets kept the silvereyes away. The result, good yields across all varieties, slowly ripened fruit with retained natural acidity and impressive flavour profiles.

Region notes
With the climate north of the Margaret River townsite being ideal for producing a Rhone-style red, Ashbrook planted Shiraz in 1998. The vines were trellised on a lyre system and cane pruned to promote canopy-fruit balance, uniform sunlight penetration, eliminate green characters and allow for optimum flavor and tannin ripeness. As part of Ashbrook‚s desire to follow an organic grape growing approach, the vineyard is liberally composted at a rate of 10m3/ha. This has occurred each year in late winter/early spring since 2006 and has been important in preventing soil acidification as well as promoting beneficial microbial activity.

Grape variety
Shiraz

PH
3.09

Acidity
7.0 g/l

Variety: Shiraz/Syrah
Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
Winemaker: Tony & Brian Devitt