2007 MadFish Gold Turtle Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes

Benign weather for most of the late spring and early summer was favourable for vine growth and fruit development.   Every stage of the vine phenology was early and the crop levels were low due to the bunches being light in weight and number. These two factors led to one of the earliest seasons ever experienced in the southwest.  Ripening for the most part was very even and very early and the summer temperatures for January and February were predominantly mild.

This fruit is predominantly sourced from a single vineyard in the northern Yallingup subregion of the Margaret River strip. These Cabernet Sauvignon vines have reached a maturity and natural balance that is starting to produce grapes of great concentration and quality.
The Cabernet Sauvignon parcels were harvested by hand and by machine and transported to our Denmark winery. The fruit was sorted and de-stemmed to 1 and 4 tonne open fermenters and a 10 tonne static fermenter. The fermentation started naturally and the wines were plunged and/or pumped over 2-4 times daily. At dryness some parcels were basket pressed and others were kept on skins for an additional 14-21 days.
Maturation was in a mix of new and older French oak barriques for 18 months before the blend was assembled.

 The 2007 MadFish Gold Turtle Cabernet Sauvignon is the first release of a Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon under the Gold Turtle livery. The colour is an opaque purple red of great density. The riper Cabernet Sauvignon of the Yallingup subregion offers classic varietal and regional characters of blackcurrant, chocolate, roasted tomatoes and dried sage. The palate is rich and fleshy with juicy blackberry and fine cedary tannin textures. The full bodied mid-palate is supported by ripe open knit fruit tannins and well integrated French oak.

This wine will develop further over the next 2 to 3 years, and drink well for up to 6 years.