Wine Specs
Vintage
2004
Varietal
100% McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
McLaren Vale
Vineyard Designation
Little Falls, McLaren Vale
pH
3.65
Residual Sugar
6.62
Alcohol %
14.0
Shingleback D Block Cab Sav 2004
Museum
In Stock
The 2004 growing season was climatically normal, with good spring growth and a long, dry autumn. Ripening was slightly later than usual, with whites being picked in mid-March and reds in late March to late April. If there is one word to describe the 2004 vintage, it is fruitful. Although it is common to thin fruit from young vines, in the 2004 growing season one third of the crop was removed from even the oldest vines, just prior to veraison. The end result was small berries with intense fruit flavours which will rival the outstanding 2002 vintage.
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Medium-deep plum red. Pretty aromas of blackcurrant and crystallised violet are complemented with notes of wet slate and bay leaf. Cassis and blueberry flavours flow through the long, linear, medium-to-full bodied palate. Seamlessly balanced, with harmonious fine-grained tannins and subtle notes of French oak. A contemporary McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the synergy of this noble variety, the terroir and my personal winemaking philosophy and will reward careful cellaring.
Vineyard Notes
Despite a very dry August a wet July in 2019 brought winter rainfall (233mm) close to the average. The relatively cool winter resulted in mid-September budburst, more in line with long term averages. Good rainfall in September was followed by a dry October and November. A record hot spring day on 20th of November (39.9 C) followed by several days of very high winds affected cultivars flowering at the time, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, reducing berry set. Hotter than average spring temperatures along with a very hot December and high evaporation meant strategic and timely early irrigation was critical in setting up vine growth and maximizing fruit quality. The upside of these conditions was very low levels of pest and disease. McLaren Vale was fortunate to be unaffected by the devastating fires across many regions.The season turned on the 4th of January and the following months were cooler than average. A timely rain in early February revived vines without causing berry splitting. Harvest started mid-February on Pinot Noir for Rosé. Chardonnay and Fiano were picked by the end of the month. Starting with Tempranillo and Shiraz, reds were picked from the end of February to the end of March. Cool conditions allowed a steady and calm progression through harvest despite the challenges of Covid 19 restrictions.Our reliable region and resources, including our very talented vineyard and winery teams, have resulted in 2020 Shingleback wines of excellent quality and generally only slightly lower quantity.
Production Notes
*No animal products were used in the crafting of this wine.
Winemaker Notes
Two great McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon blocks combine harmoniously; one, a Reynella clone planted east west in 1982 on loam and the other, a CW44 clone planted north south in 1999 on red clay. Gentle cap management, through traditional open fermentation, protects and nurtures the unique qualities of the terroir. Very fine grained French oak hogsheads are used to allow a long, slow maturation of the wine and subtle oak integration. A combination of new and 1 to 6 year old oak barrels, crafted by select coopers to our requirements are used to create nuances and diversity of flavour.
Other Notes
The region has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters, dry summers and plenty of sunshine.
The proximity to St Vincent Gulf, coincidentally named after the patron saint of winemakers,
benefits fruit quality with warmer spring and autumn conditions and cooler summers.
McLaren Vale is renowned as a premium wine region of great beauty that consistently produces
high quality, richly flavoured wines.