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NOTES
Driven by quality and a hands-on approach, Hollick wines are made from three core vineyards. Neilson's Block, planted by Ian and Wendy in 1975, the nearby Wilgha vineyard, purchased in 1987 and the Red Ridge vineyard developed in 1998 at Wrattonbully, giving Hollick over 200 acres of vineyard in total. Eighty percent is planted to red varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. The balances of the vineyards are planted to the white varieties of Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Coonawarra soil is the classic Terra Rossa over limestone, providing excellent drainage and the right balance of nutrients, the ideal medium for vine growth and production of high quality fruit. Since the renaissance of Coonawarra in the 1950's, the region has produced many classic red wines, mainly based on Cabernet Sauvignon. Coonawarra has become synonymous with this grape variety and is recognised and admired world wide as a leading area for the production of premium quality table wines. The long and cool ripening season also produces white wines of distinction, particularly from Riesling, Chardonnays and more recently Sauvignon Blanc.
In the vineyard, Hollick wines utilise a blend of traditional methods and modern technology, which are employed to achieve balance in the wine and consistency of style in the market place.
TASTING NOTES
The long, cool and dry growing seasons that prevail in Coonawarra provide the ideal conditions for grapes to
accumulate intense flavours and colours. The combination of a relatively cool climate and the unique terra rossa soils typically produces distinctive and impressively intense Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2005 growing season in Coonawarra was just about perfect for these varieties. Summer was warm and dry, devoid of significant extremes. The autumn harvest season that followed was notable for being warm and sunny with negligible precipitation, bringing about an early and unhurried vintage. The yields were marginally below the long-term average, with the fruit showing good ripeness and excellent colour. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot stands as a testament to the philosophy that “great wines are made in the vineyard”.
In the winery, the grapes were handled carefully to retain the intense fruit flavours developed in the vineyard. Partial barrel fermentation followed by 18 months maturation in a combination of French and American barrels, has given the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot an elegant structure and a long finish on the palate.
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, its colour is a bright ruby red with purple hues at the rim. The wine combines alluring varietal Cabernet Sauvignon aromas of blackcurrants and liqueur cherries, with the softer Merlot notes of violets, plums and dark chocolate. A complex and intense palate with lashings of sweet black fruits. Fine and velvety tannins combine to give the wine a soft and lingering finish.
The wine is very approachable on release, but 7years plus in a good cellar will be amply rewarded.
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