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1996 Mount Avoca Arda's Choice Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot

Pyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
$44. 99
Bottle
$539.88 Dozen
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Notes sourced from Mount Avoca

Vintage comments:

The 1996 vintage started with one of the driest Springs ever. A dry summer resulted in disease free conditions and ideal ripening conditions. Fruit set was generally good, although a little patchy and although dry, the summer was quite cool and ripening was quite late. There was some rain towards the latter part of the season and around vintage, but this was very light and had little or no effect on the vines. Fruit quality was excellent for both reds and whites while yield was slightly below average.

Vinification:

The very best Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet pressings, Merlot and Cabernet Franc were selected and aged for three years in new French oak barrels. At the end of this time the best ‘hogshead’ of each variety was selected and blended to produce this striking with obvious blackberry flavours and developed vanilla and chocolate notes. Time in bottle will encourage greater complexity as the subtle cedar, cigar box characters integrate with the sweet fruit. A rich, sophisticated and mature wine that drinks beautifully now and will improve for many years.

Tasting Notes - (tasted on release 2000):

Colour: Deep purple

Bouquet: Dusty vanilla with ripe blackberry and violets. Extended oak maturation has complexity, but sweet fruit characters still dominate.

Palate: Rich sweet blackberry abound with vanilla, chocolate, cedar and cinnamon combining in this full, soft and structured wine. Enjoyable now, this wine will drink well into 2010.

Food: Excellent with traditional meat dishes and classic cuisine. Its richnessd sweet fruit makes it an ideal accompaniment to a wide range of good, including cheese and desserts.

Grapes: Picked from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot late April to May 1996.

Wine: Alcohol 13.5%
           pH 3.42
           TA 7.28 g/l

1560 bottles (130 dozen) only

Bottled on 2 December 1999.