The Name
Coppermine Road runs parallel to our very best Cabernet vineyard in McLaren Vale, just metres from the winery, cellar door and restaurant.
The Vintage
Quite a wet winter with July, August and September being way above average in rainfall. October, November and December were a little below average and January, February and March were more or less bone dry. Temperatures were mild until late January, so vines seemed to be delayed and harvest appeared like it was again going to be late. However, a few hot days and nights brought the ripening forward with slight sacrifice of acidity. The above average temperatures of February and March and the dryness made everything ripen relatively quickly. Yields appeared on the lighter side, because the heat and dry conditions did reduce them significantly, however they were still quite respectable across all varieties.
The Winemaking
Small batches of grapes are gently crushed and then transferred to five tonne headed down open fermenters. These batches remain separate until final blending. Foot treading is undertaken two thirds of the way through fermentation. The wine is then basket pressed and transferred to a mixture of new and used French oak barriques to complete fermentation. The barrel ferments are aged on lees, and there is no racking until final blending. The Coppermine Road does not undertake fining or filtration prior to bottling, which may result in a harmless deposit in or adhering to the bottle. The Characteristics Dark and intense Cabernet. This wine has personality - a loud and powerful aroma. Very fragrant with green and red capsicum, savoury spices, tomato leaves, blackcurrant and sage. The flavours follow suit, with red fruits, fresh cherries, capsicum, tomatoes and Asian spices. There’s some white and black pepper to be found towards the back palate. A long, lingering and persistent wine that sits with you for a long time. The exciting fine grain tannins have developed over time making for a wine that can be enjoyed now, but promises huge potential. Will cellar for 20 to 30 years, easily. A lovely wine on its own accord, but suggest pairing with a rich meat dish like lamb or steak.
Cellaring Potential
While enjoyable in youth, this wine will reach its full potential with bottle age up to at least 20 years. The considerable structure and depth will ensure that the fruit characters will develop over time revealing more complexity and providing immense interest. This wine is best stored in an environment free of direct sunlight and with consistent temperatures between 10°C and 15°C.
