Mount Barker ‘Back Vintage’ Cabernet Merlot 2018

About The Wine:

The fruit for this Mount Barker Back Vintage Cabernet Merlot 2013 was machine picked then crushed and chilled into small open fermenters and inoculated after 8 days cold soak. The fermenters were pumped over with aeration twice a day, temperature was held around 25°C, then allowed to warm up for the finish of fermentation. A post-ferment maceration was carried out for 21 days leaving the wine on skins. The wine was then pressed and transferred in barrel for its malolactic fermentation, allowing a soft integration of the grape and oak tannins. The wine was bottled after 12 months maturation.

Comments from Wine Buyer Steve:

This is a fantastic 2018 Cabernet Merlot with some bottle age. The palate is elegant and structured with blackberries and savoury notes that are well supported by fine tannins. The finish has beautiful smooth textures and seamless oak integration.

My score 94/100 – WACC Gold Medal 

About The Producer:

The producer of this fantastic Mount Barker Cabernet Merlot 2018 is in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. They are one of WA’s largest family owned and operated wine producers. The current owners represent the third and fourth generation living and working on the in-Frankland River. It is this family’s love and commitment the Great Southern, as well as the unique combination of gravelly loam soils, warm sunny days and cool nights during the ripening season that produce grapes of intense varietal character and a sense of place. The winery is rated a perfect 5 Red Stars by James Halliday in his 2020 Wine Companion.

What is Cabernet Merlot 

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are amongst the most popular red wine varieties in Australia and throughout the world. When blended, they form a classic combination that is identified by breeding and distinction. According to a leading wine producer, the ideal blend of Cabernet Merlot is about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.

The blend is identified by a deep black colour and a bouquet that resembles a touch of soft chocolate, dark plum and violets. Among wine aficionados, it is one of the classic varietal combinations in the world of wine.

About the region:

The Great Southern in Western Australia is the largest wine region in Australia by area and is the second largest producer of grapes in Western Australia. It is a landscape of forested cliffs and stunning mountain ranges, breathtaking coastlines, rolling green pastures and towns steeped in history. It is made up of five subregions: Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup. 

The first vines were planted in the mid 1960’s when a trial vineyard was established near Mount Barker. The original vines were Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the Great Southern is well and truly in the spotlight on a national and international stage. There are now about 70 wineries in the area with main varieties consisting of Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. While most wine regions have their star varieties, due to the sheer size of Great Southern and its varied terrain, it has the capacity to produce world-class wines from a range of classic varieties.