2023 Singlefile Great Southern Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Five varieties of grapes are permitted in red Bordeaux wines: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. In Australia, cabernet sauvignon and merlot is a common blend to produce a Bordeaux-style red, with merlot’s smoothness and fruit forward qualities helping to balance the high tannin in the cabernet.

The fruit was picked and hand-sorted in late April 2023. The two varietal parcels were cold soaked in small fermenters for two days before undergoing a gentle and extended maceration. This approach helped to soften the tannin profile. The wine was then matured in 225L Bordeaux oak barriques (30% new) with the balance to aged Bordeaux barriques. The wine was matured in these barrels for fourteen months before being prepared for final blending and bottling.