2000 Coriole Mary Kathleen Cabernets Winery: Coriole Vintage: 2000 Region: McLaren Vale Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Cabernets Price: $60.00 (out of stock)

2000 Mary Kathleen

Vineyards

Low crop level is of utmost importance to ensure the fruit ripens to it's full potential. Both the Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot are trellised on a single cordon wire, & spur pruned to 20 buds to ensure vine balance & low cropping. Our aim is to minimise the use of fertilizers & chemicals whenever possible to maintain healthy vines & deter vigour. Also, minimal fungicide spraying with "soft" chemicals such as sulphur & copper & any insecticides used are target specific & part of an Integrated Pest Management approach.

Vintage

During the growing season for 2001 vintage we enjoyed warm weather with no rain to speak of. The early indications were extremely promising for both red and white wines, with excellent fruit flavours evident in the ferments. Interestingly, the red grapes seem to have produced intense flavour development at lower baume than they often show. Shiraz showed excellent concentration in flavour and colour.

Fermentation and Aging

Hand plunging in open fermenters, then final fermentation in American and French oak hogsheads. The wine is racked four or five times and minimal interference occurs while it is aged in barrel for 15 to 18 months, then bottled and rested a year prior to release in cellar door.

Winemakers' Comments

The mild conditions of this vintage resulted in a wine that is dark and dense in colour. Fragrant cassis, red berry and chocolate are abundant. A powerful palate showing great richness, structure and length. Very approachable in its early years due to the incredible fruit sweetness but 5-7 years is recommended to fully reveal the charms of this wine.

Menu Suggestions

Serve at room temperature 16-24 ºC, with a large range of full flavoured foods including duck, lamb, kangaroo, venison, Osso Bucco or pheasant with red wine sauce. Serve after decanting as an older wine.

Finished Wine

Bottling date: 18.03.2002
Sizes: 750ml, 1.5L
Region: 100% McLaren Vale
Varietal Composition: 90% Shiraz 10% Merlot
Alcohol: 13.8% Alc/vol
Total Acidity: 6.3g/L
pH: 3.49

Harvest

Average Sugar: 13.6 Be
pH: 3.46
Acid: 5.8g/L

Two-thousand was a challenging vintage in McLaren Vale, but you would never know that by tasting Coriole’s 2000 Cabernet/Merlot Mary Kathleen. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this terrific inky/purple-colored effort displays a gorgeous nose of melted road tar, sweet vanilla, creme de cassis, and camphor. Full-bodied, with wonderful density, purity, ripeness, and tremendous overall harmony as well as persistence, it can be drunk now and over the next 10-12 years. A beauty! Kudos to proprietor/winemaker Mark Lloyd, referred to as the “renaissance man” by many of his peers.