Katnook Estate Coonawarra Cabernet and Shiraz released!
Announcement posted by Wingara Wine Group 01 Feb 2013
Katnook Estate of Coonawarra has released its Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz ($40 each) from the acclaimed 2010 vintage…
Winemaker Wayne Stehbens tasted these wines recently in the Katnook Estate woolshed – check it out at http://bit.ly/10LDqgx
Harvest began on Feb 13th 2010 and finished on 13th April, a very early vintage. Average yield was 6.5 tonnes, close to the long term average. Weather conditions made for another very interesting season. There were no significant frosts in spring and good rain in late winter, spring and early summer led to good shoot growth. A heat wave in November may have reduced yield by affecting the pollination of the grape flowers, but the bunch numbers on the vines before that had already indicated a lower yielding year.
Temperatures during summer were about 1 to 1.5◦C above average and there were no periods of extremely high (or low) temperatures.
So 2010 Coonawarra vintage will be remembered, not only as one of the earliest, but also for being amongst the best. The near ideal weather conditions of below average rainfall and above average temperatures in Coonawarra leading up to harvest were conducive to an early start.
Viticulturist Chris Brodie explains “2010 was ideal for great colour and flavour development. One of the joys of Coonawarra is that the grapes develop tremendous colour two weeks prior to harvest, which then gets better and better – it’s magic.”
Langton’s Wine Auction said of the 2010 Coonawarra vintage, “This is an outstanding Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon vintage with excellent fruit definition and tannin maturity.”
KATNOOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010. RRP $40
Rated “Distinguished” in the Langton’s V Classification (2010). Langton’s describe the Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon style as “intense blackcurrant mulberry aromas, generous pure-fruit flavours, finely grained tannins, underlying mocha notes and plenty of flavour length.”
Grape Variety :: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra.
Harvest :: 20th March to 8th April 2010
pH :: 3.50 Acidity :: 7.0g/L Alc/vol. :: 13.5%
Oak Maturation :: The wine was matured for approximately 22 months in 225 litre oak barrels, 15% of the barrels were new and predominantly French Barriques with the balance previously filled French and American oak.
Cellaring Potential :: 10 – 12 years.
KATNOOK ESTATE SHIRAZ 2010. RRP $40
Grape Variety :: 100%Shiraz from Coonawarra
Harvest :: 18th March to 1st April.
pH :: 3.5 Acidity :: 6.3g/L RS :: 2.6g/L Alc/vol. :: 13.5%
Oak Maturation :: Matured for approximately 22 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels. Of these, 15% were new French and 12% were new American. The balance of wine was matured in older, mostly American barrels.
Cellaring Potential :: 10 to 12 years.