---

Colour

Deep red and black with magenta rim

Aroma

Bright and intense, volumes of rich berries, plums and maraschino cherries. The aromas are continually evolving, also bringing cedary spice, subtle lavender, bitter chocolate, tar and fudge

Palate

Currently very tight and restrained. 2009 brought wines of great flavour with elements of finesse and the 09 Ares is no exception. Juicy plums and blueberries dominate early to mid-palate, then underlying cedary chocolate notes emerge carrying the wine through to the late palate, tightening up again to a focused core of fruit, spice and tannin

Winemaking

Crushed, destemmed and fermented in 5, 7 and 10 tonne open top fermenters with regular pump overs; up to 3 times daily during peak fermentation to extract colour and tannin. Following 7-21 days of “on skins” maceration the free run was drained to tank with the skins then pressed. Both the free run and pressings are blended to tank and then racked to oak after 24 hours. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. Minimal fining and non-filtered.

 

---