WOLF BLASS BLACK LABEL CABERNET SHIRAZ

A POWERFUL EXPRESSION OF THE WOLF BLASS PHILOSOPHY
OF SYNERGISTIC BLENDING, BLACK LABEL IS BUILT ON
PERSISTENCE OF FLAVOUR, SEAMLESS TEXTURE AND LONG
VELVETY TANNINS. OPULENT YET ELEGANT FRUIT FROM
LANGHORNE CREEK AND McLAREN VALE PROVIDES
RICHNESS, DEPTH AND EXCEPTIONAL COMPLEXITY.

The philosophy behind Black Label is simple: to take the year’s very best wines and
weave them together into a synergistic whole, the resultant wine being greater than the
sum of its parts. It’s about creating a wine with many layers of flavour in a complex
composition of intense fruit characters, magnificent structure, a rich lustrous texture,
long velvety tannins and a lingering palate.
Harvested at optimum maturity and flavour, fruit from each vineyard was crushed, de-
stemmed and fermented separately for seven to twelve days on skins. The ferments
were allowed to warm naturally with plunging and gentle pumping over used to
maximise colour and flavour extraction. Mid-ferment cooling extended fermentation,
exploiting time on skins and accentuating line and length. The wines were pressed
while still retaining a touch of sugar, then transferred to barrel to complete
fermentation, allowing a balanced integration of oak characters and enhancing texture
and complexity.

WINE SPECIFICATIONS

VINEYARD REGION : Langhorne Creek - McLaren Vale

  VINTAGE CONDITIONS 

Winter rainfall was close to the long-term average resulting in full
soil moisture profiles. Spring temperatures fluctuated between warmer
than average and very cool and summer temperatures were ideal, with
mild to warm days and frequent cool nights. Combined with low crop
levels, this culminated in near-perfect ripening conditions, producing
bright, varietal fruit with intensity of colour and flavour, excellent
natural acidity and superb line and balance.

     GRAPE VARIETY : 54% Cabernet Sauvignon - 41% Shiraz - 5% Malbec

     MATURATION :

Matured as individual vineyard batches in a combination of 40%
new and 38% seasoned French oak, 12% new and 10% seasoned
American oak for 20 months.

     WINE ANALYSIS

Alc/Vol: 14.5%
Acidity: 6.9 g/L
pH: 3.55

     PEAK DRINKING

2016 to 2042 - This wine will develop with age, softening and
mellowing to reward many years of careful cellaring.

     FOOD MATCH

Great with slow roasted venison shoulder with rosemary and soft
polenta or vintage cheddar with walnuts and honey-poached quince.

WINEMAKER COMMENTS

COLOUR：Deep rich purple.

NOSE

A distinctive and characteristic Black Label
nose defined by layers of fragrant dark berries
and blackcurrant, backed up with deep notes
of espresso coffee, panforte and smoky, toasted-
nut barrel ferment characters. Hints of
Langhorne Creek mint are evident without
being dominant. Classic cigar-box complexity
is starting to express itself and is expected to
develop further with time.

PALATE

A complex, multi-layered and mouth-filling
    
wine, with refined yet opulent fruit and a
plush, velvety texture. Perfectly ripe spicy
blackberry and blood-plum flavours fill out a
beautifully balanced palate that’s complexed
by integrated mocha oak and finessed with
supple, elegant tannins that impart a defined
line and exceptional length of flavour.