2006 The Redman
The Redman represents the finest fruit grown on the Redman family’s 40-year-old vineyards in the heart of Coonawarra. Each year we earmark the very best parcels of wine to blend together to produce just eight hogsheads (2400L) of this flagship wine.
The 2006 growing season began with average winter rainfall and fine spring conditions. Flowering and fruit set were slightly earlier, however cool and windy conditions towards the end of flowering caused some inconsistent set. A warm-to-hot summer with favourable rainfall events throughout encouraged steady vine growth and balance resulting in normal ripening. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot yields were slightly below average with excellent fruit quality
The grapes were picked and fermented in static stainless and open concrete fermenters for seven days then half the wine was run off skins and transferred to new French oak hogsheads. After completion of fermentation in these barrels, the wine was racked off lees, the barrels rinsed and the wine returned. The remainder of the wine was transferred to two- and three-year-old French oak hogsheads after malolactic fermentation was complete. In November 2007, we rigorously selected the very best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz wines, which were then judiciously blended and transferred back into oak.
The wine spent a further nine months in oak prior to being bottled in August 2008. The wine has been further matured in bottle prior to being released for sale. Only 200 dozen bottles of our flagship wine are produced.
TASTING NOTES:
- Colour: medium-to-deep brick red.
- Bouquet: aged characters of tobacco, cigar box, leather and earth.
- Palate: fine structure, with soft tannin and acid backbone with intense fruit characters and hints of mint. The flavours persist into the long dry finish.
ACCOLADES:
- 97 points, Tony Love ".....raises to the highest peak of what Coonawarra can achieve."
- 95 Points, Huon Hooke
WINEMAKERS: