Carmen Stevens Petite Sirah 2017

Carmen Stevens Petite Sirah 2017 |Australian variety|

Winemaking

The fruit was handpicked at optimal ripeness. Fruit are bunch sorted to ensure only the best are used in the ferment. A cold soak is employed for 3-4 days which encourages good colour and tannin extraction. The batches are inoculated with a pure yeast culture and regular pump-overs are used to ensure enough oxygen is incorporated for a healthy ferment. I use 10% American oak during maturation to compliment the pure ripe fruit from the Paarl region as well as the sturdy acidity of the variety.

Tasting Notes

Dark chocolate with a toffee- caramel nose fused with liquorice root and spice on nose. A limey palate entrance flows to a smooth tannin structure and ripe sweet blueberry fruit flavour. Well integrated oak is supported by good fruit intensity and length. This wine shows great depth of fruit and is kept fresh by a fresh lime feel on the palate.

Analysis

Alcohol: 13.5 %
Residual Sugar: 2.4 g/l
Total Acidity: 5.7 g/l
pH: 3.4
Wine of Origin: Paarl

Special Note

This is one of 6 Petite Sirah wines produced in South Africa. It is big, powerful and with plenty bags of flavour on the palate, with a soft tannin heart. A beautiful wine that over delivers without dominating other characters in the wine. Only 6 barrels of this beauty was produced, leaving us with 1,620 bottles to enjoy!