Grand Vin 2017, Gold Hill Winery

Description from the Producer

The culmination of our best efforts, Grand Vin is in the tradition of French Bordeaux Chateaus, signifying the best wine produced at the winery. A blend of predominantly Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, and made with the ripest, select areas of our home block. Producing this wine from fruit grown on our home Estate, makes this wine a definite Okanagan representation of a classic Right Bank Bordeaux. The vine clones are all ENTAV selections on 3309 rootstock, producing fruit with great aromatic profile and elegant tannins. Most of the fruit was hand-picked in late October, and hand-sorted in the vineyard to remove any damaged berries or non-grape material. At the crush pad, the clusters were destemmed, and then partially crushed. Each individual variety was picked and crushed separately. For each wine batch the must was allowed to slowly warm up, while cold soaking, allowing wild flora to start co- fermentation on the surface of the must. At 18 C, the must of each wine batch was inoculated and fermented between 26 and 28 C. Daily pump-overs and delestage, allowed full development of the tannins and colour. Before the ferment finished to dry, the young wine was transferred to 100% new French oak barrel where it aged a further 18 months. Our 2017 Grand Vin is a serious Okanagan red blend. Dark and brooding it would be equally at home with a roaring fire or outdoors, grilling steaks. On the nose the Cabernet Sauvignon contributes blackberry and raspberry, with notes of red currants and cherry from the Cabernet Franc. In the mouth, there is a lovely viscous density with notes of vanilla from significant barrel time. Mouth-coating ripe tannins enhance the finish. Drink now through to 2035.