1996 Orlando St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Winery: Orlando Vintage: 1996 Region: Coonawarra Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon Price: $65.00 (out of stock)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The 1996 vintage will be remembered as one of the best of the decade. It was preceded by mild Summer temperatures and little rainfall. The conditions throughout February to April were warm and dry which resulted in concentrated varietal flavours and good depth of colour.

HARVEST DATE.

April 9 to May 14, 1996.

WINEMAKING

The fruit for St Hugo was selected from a number of vineyards on the basis of the characters it offered to the final blend. Harvest was then conducted over a range of ripeness levels building complexity of fruit flavours into the wine.

The wine was then fermented on skins for up to 14 days, with some parcels being drained off skins early for fermentation in new French oak barrels. After pressing, the free run and pressings were kept separate with only those pressings of suitable textures being combined with the free run.

The integrity of the individual vineyards was maintained throughout maturation in new and one year old French oak casks for up to 20 months. A selected of superior vineyard wines was then made for the blend, with a further rigorous selection of individual barrels ensuring only the best wines were included. This wine received a further 14 months maturation in bottle prior to its release.

ANALYSIS

Alcohol: 13.5% alc/vol  Total Acid: 6.2 g/L   pH: 3.55

BOTTLING DATE

March, 2001.

COLOUR

Full depth, deep crimson red.

BOUQUET

A dense bouquet of cassis and berry fruits complemented by spicy coffee oak nuances.

PALATE

Full bodied and youthful, ripe concentrated fruit supported by soft grape and oak tannins, providing excellent length of flavour.

ASSESSMENT

An outstanding example of Coonawarra Cabernet which, given proper cellaring conditions, will continue to develop further complexity and softness in the bottle over the medium to long term.