Bull Ant Cabernet Merlot, 2018

Amazing lifted aromas of blackberries is complemented by a touch of mocha. Rich and smooth with polished tannins and a lovely soft finish.

Meet the maker: Lake Breeze

Region: Langhorne Creek, South Australia – Australia

Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (20%)

14.5% ABV / 750ml / Vegetarian / Vegan

Viticulture:

Langhorne Creek is situated south-east of Adelaide and is a premium viticultural region with cooling lake and ocean breezes.

The vines have an average age of 40 years and are cultivated on their own rootstocks in soils that are generally alluvial sandy loam with some parts over a clay base.

This dry region, situated at the bottom of the Murray River, is irrigated by a weir floodgate system.

The vineyards are surrounded by striking, historically important gum trees that still bear the holes that were once dug out by the Aboriginal Australians which were carved into canoes to sail up the river. The Bull Ant depicted on the label refers to the ants that were discovered in the vineyard when it was first planted, their propensity for biting encouraged swift work in the vineyard!

Winemaking:

Fruit selection was paramount for this wine.

The grapes were fermented on their skins in small, eight tonne, open static tanks; which lasted for seven days with hand pumping over and rack and returns thrice daily.

The young wine was then pressed to oak barriques to complete the fermentation.

The wine was then matured for 15 months in French and American oak.