Viburno 2012

72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 4% Montepulciano.

 

 

Harvest Data:

Merlot    22.3    Brix    3.3    pH    6.0 g/l Total Acidity

Cab.Fr    23.8    Brix    3.35   pH    6.4 g/l Total Acidity

Monte    23.8     Brix    3.14    pH    8.0 g/l Total Acidity

 

 

The Wine

 “Viburno”, the flagship wine of the Poderi Crisci Estate label is a fine blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Montepulciano. Tradition the fruit is harvested from our Northern Merlot block, just above the “House Block” and our Southern Merlot block. In 2012 however, the Merlot was picked exclusively from the richer Northern block.

 

The Vineyard

 An unusual growing season for Waiheke that was cooler than the norm, a long, extended autumn resulted in a beautifully classic flavour profile.

 

The Winery

 Due to the cooler growing season of the 2012 vintage, the merlot was hand picked on the 13th and 14th of April. (The Montepulciano was also picked on the 14th of April) and the cabernet Franc was again hand picked 6 days later on the 20th of the same month. As with all of our wines, great care is taken when picking to select only the best fruit, and this process is repeated again on the sorting table prior to the gentle destemming and crushing process. The three different components are all fermented using only wild yeast in stainless tanks over a period of around 14 days. A period of ten days maceration on the skins followed after which the wines were again pressed utilising traditional basket pressing methods, into French oak barriques for malolactic fermentation over 17 months. Of the barrels used for this period, 30% where new oak barrels.  A total of 14 barrels of 2012 “Viburno” where produced and bottled on the estate.

 

Tasting notes

The 2012 Vintage was a classic year resulting in a classic flavour profile. The Viburno 2012 exhibits a lifted nose of plum, blackberry and black cherries. The very balanced and full flavoured palate follows with more plum and dark cherry notes, bound within a soft and refined cedar wood structure. The finish tantalises with a hint of cigar box, with soft and supple tannins which hint at the great cellaring potential.