Grazing Cab Merlot 2021

Alkoomi Tasting Notes:

• Colour: Deep, vibrant red, reflecting the wine’s rich fruit and complexity.
• Aromatics: A bouquet of wild strawberry, blueberry, rich plum, and sweet spice with subtle undertones of bay leaf and cedar.
• Palate: A medium-bodied wine with a bright red fruit profile, complemented by earthy undertones and soft, chewy tannins. Savoury notes emerge on the mid-palate, adding depth and balance.
• Finish: The finish is long and smooth, with soft tannins that provide a satisfying structure.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

• Grilled Steak: The wine’s rich fruit and savoury layers make it a perfect match for a grilled steak, especially one with a smoky char.
• Roast Lamb: Pair it with a roast lamb dish, where the wine’s earthy qualities complement the richness of the meat.
• Cheese: Aged cheddar or gouda will bring out the wine’s complexity and enhance the overall tasting experience.
• Mushroom Dishes: Its savoury notes also pair wonderfully with earthy mushroom-based dishes, such as a mushroom risotto or a wild mushroom pasta.

Vineyard & Winemaking:

The grapes for this wine are estate-grown, harvested in the early morning to ensure optimal flavour and acidity. After harvest, the grapes undergo a cold soak process, extracting delicate flavours and aromas before fermentation. The juice is kept in stainless steel tanks during fermentation to preserve the purity of the fruit and maintain crispness. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, adding complexity and depth to the finished product.

Fermentation: Cold-soaked for flavour extraction, then fermented in stainless steel tanks for 3 months to preserve freshness and fruit purity.
Oak Maturation: The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, allowing for a balanced integration of oak and fruit.
Harvest: Handpicked in the early morning to maintain freshness and preserve the fruit’s natural acidity.

Technical Data:

• Grape Variety: Red Blend (specific varietals could be added based on the wine’s composition)
• Region: Estate-grown in a cool climate region
• Alcohol: 13.5% by Vol | 8.0 Standard Drinks
• pH: 3.55
• Titratable Acidity: 6.2 g/L
• Cellaring: Can be enjoyed now or cellared for 5-8 years for further complexity.

Vintage Conditions:
The 2023 vintage experienced an incredibly wet winter followed by scattered spring showers. The summer was long and hot, with cool summer nights that allowed for slow ripening of the fruit. The vines thrived with vibrant, luscious canopies, and the fruit was harvested in late autumn, ensuring optimal ripeness and balance.

Best Serving Temperature:

Ideal Serving Temperature: 16°C
Serving slightly below room temperature will enhance the wine’s juicy fruit profile.

Technical Wine Language Explained:

• Cold Soak: A process where the grapes are soaked in their juice before fermentation begins. This helps to extract colour, flavour, and aromatics, particularly for red wines.
• Stainless Steel Ferment: The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, which preserve the fresh fruit flavours and prevent any unwanted oxidation or heavy oak influence.
• Oak Maturation: The wine was aged in oak barrels, which impart additional complexity, subtle oak spice, and a smooth texture to the wine.

Learn About Alkoomi Winery

Located in the Frankland River region of the Great Southern. Who owns Alkoomi? Sandy and Rod Hallett, along with their daughters Laura, Emily, and Molly run their third generation family winery. They will tell you that Alkoomi is our heart, our home, and our passion. Our 1200-hectare farm has been home to our family since 1946 and has evolved from a grain and livestock farm to a thriving and sustainable vineyard and innovative winery.

Alkoomi believes that wine is about celebration and sharing. Our wines are made to suit all occasions, bring people together, build a sense of community, and create conversation and lasting memories. From our family dinner table to yours, we encourage you to enjoy these wines with wholesome food, lots of laughter and the ones you love.

Their extensive wine range has many accolades from Wine Companion & Ray Jordan.