Description
In 1838, merchant and miller, Johann Georg Kalleske migrated from Prussia, establishing a new life in South Australia. Today, seven generations later, descendant and fellow merchant and miller, Kym John Kalleske, farms our diverse Kalleske property established at Greenock in the North-Western Barossa in 1853. Continuing the family tradition, Kym is a miller of hay and a merchant of chaff, lamb and grapes. This Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon is a single vineyard wine that’s been hand pruned and harvested by Kym. Traditional winemaking and maturation in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads has ensured a full-bodied varietal Cabernet Sauvignon displaying classic structure and richness typical of the Kalleske vineyard.
Growing Season
Vintage 2021 was an exemplary year with fine wines and good yields. Growing season rainfall was marginally below average and temperatures were mild ensuring vine canopies remained healthy. Vintage weather was absolutely perfect throughout, with dry mild-warm days and cool nights ensuring even and steady ripening across all varieties. There is strong colour and flavour across all the reds along with excellent structure and balance whilst the whites are bright, fresh and elegant.
Vineyard
Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from a single vineyard that was planted on the Kalleske property at the end of last century. The hand-pruned vines are low-yielding and are grown in shallow, sandy loam soil over superb deep red clay, providing ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
The grapes were picked on April 7th. Following destemming into an open-top fermenter, the must was fermented for 11 days on skins with hand pump-overs twice a day. After pressing off skins the Cabernet was filled to a mix of one third new and the balance used French oak hogsheads, where the wine underwent natural malolactic fermentation. The Cabernet was matured in barrel for a year prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
2021 Merchant Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple in colour.
Classic varietal aromatics lift from the glass. Fragrances include violet perfume and blackcurrant along with a hint of nutty oak. It is super lifted and very engaging.
This is a medium-full bodied Cabernet with utmost finesse and poise. It is richly flavoured with a balanced elegance ensuring the pristine fruits shine through. Natural tannins give structure and backbone leading to a pleasant and lengthy dry finish. Classy cedary oak adds supporting complexity to this true-to-type Cabernet with superb poise. Merchant is a classic Barossa Cabernet that can be equally enjoyed now or in a decade
.