WOLF BLASS WHITE LABEL SHIRAZ CABERNET

REGIONAL SOURCE

74% Robe – 26% Mount Benson

GRAPE VARIETY

83% Shiraz – 17% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The lead up to the 2012 harvest was drier than
average in Robe and Mount Benson, however good
winter rains allowed the vines to enter the growing
season with a full soil moisture profile. High
temperatures early in the season brought forward
the growing cycle and, coupled with windy conditions
during flowering, resulted in reduced yields. Cool
nights and mild, warm days during the final stages of
ripening slowed down the process, allowing the
grapes to achieve optimum maturity with good
natural acidity, smooth ripe tannins, full colour and
concentrated, varietal flavours.

VITICULTURE

Sourced from the rugged coastal regions of Robe and
Mount Benson on South Australia’s Limestone Coast,
which enjoy cool, strongly maritime climates
tempered by the cooling effects of the Southern
Ocean and surrounding lakes. With summer
temperatures up to 3 degrees cooler than nearby
Coonawarra, Robe and Mount Benson enjoy long
cool dry ripening conditions, perfect for producing
elegant, structured and intensely flavoured fruit.
Much of this low-lying area was submerged beneath
the sea as recently as 2 million years ago, with the
remains of marine life falling to the sea floor over
many millions of years to produce underlying
limestone deposits. The source vineyards range in
age from 15 to 18 years with a variety of soil types
overlaying the limestone, including the much-
heralded terra-rossa, sandy loams and deep
calcareous sands, all with abundant supplies of
natural underground water.

WINEMAKING

Harvested at optimum maturity and flavour ripeness,
fruit from individual vineyards was crushed
separately and fermented in small open-top
fermenters. A mix of plunging and gentle pumping
over was used to optimise flavour, colour and tannin
extraction, giving the wine rich concentration and
depth of fruit while retaining plush, supple tannins.
The wines were left on skins until dry to lengthen
tannins and enhance palate line and finish.

MATURATION

After gentle pressing, individual vineyard batches
were matured in a combination of seasoned and
new French and American oak barrels for 18 months
to enhance texture and complexity. The wines were
carefully assessed and blended just prior to bottling.

WINE ANALYSIS

Alc/vol: 14.5% - pH: 3.41 - Acidity: 6.8 g/L

PEAK DRINKING
Will develop with age, softening and mellowing to
reward a decade or more of careful cellaring.

COLOUR
Deep, vibrant purple

NOSE
Intense aromas of mulberry, raspberry, plum and
rhubarb are interspersed with complex spice, black
pepper, liquorice, bittersweet chocolate and a
distinctive regional minerality.

PALATE
A restrained, intricate blend with an elegant,
concentrated palate layered with a complex meld of
flavours. A seamless structure, silky texture and
lingering finish are focused by fine tannins and
perfectly balanced acidity.