2003 MadFish Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Tasting Notes

This traditional blend of three classic grape varieties is designed to produce a wine with a complete palate profile. Cabernet Sauvignon is the structurally strongest variety with good flavour in the early and late part of the taste spectrum backed up by fine tannin. Merlot has less flavour persistence than Cabernet Sauvignon but has wonderful mid palate fleshiness giving a sweet fruit centre to the wine. Cabernet Franc is highly aromatic providing a very attractive addition to the bouquet as well as contributing to the flavour early in the palate profile.
The grapes were sourced from Margaret River and the Great Southern; the two premium grape producing regions of Western Australia both of which are noted especially for the quality of the Cabernet family of grapes. Fermentation in open topped vessels with traditional pump over cap management produced a wine with loads of fruit flavours and background tannin providing structure without astringency. Maturation in French oak barriques for 10 months adds further complexity and structure without dominating the fruit.

This wine displays an intensity and depth of colour never before seen in a MadFish Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc giving some indication as to the quality of the fruit from this vintage. This wine is a brilliant dark cherry red of medium density. The nose displays aromatic berry fruits typical of the Cabernet family of grape varieties with cassis, plum and chocolaty characters. The palate is rich and ripe with full flavoured berry fruits and chocolate tones in substantial depth and concentration. Oak and tannin are integral components of all good red wine and in this wine these facets combine to produce a soft and generous finish without gripping astringency.

The wine will benefit from 6 to 8 months maturation to allow the fruit to emerge; secondary characters will develop over a 2 to 5 year period.