Wine: Rothbury Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Country: Australia

Region: New South Wales

Brand/Producer: Rothbury Estate

Grape Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

Type: Red

Code: 2006

Tasting Note

Cabernet Merlot is probably the most popular blend in Australia for red wines. The result is a melange of luscious ripe berry flavours with a touch of mocha, all on a velvety palate with a hint of gentle tannins in the finish.

Producer

In the late 1960s a syndicate including a wine columnist and director of the Australian Wine Bureau, a gallery owner and wine connoisseur and (most importantly), winemaker Len Evans was formed with the aim of establishing a vineyard. The project was officially founded in 1968 with winery becoming operational in 1970.

The Great Cask Hall, the centrepiece of the project, was inspired by the long tradition of cathedral-like timber woolsheds in country NSW. The winery exemplifies a pragmatic approach to design, focusing on the relationship between the building and its environment and a spatial progression derived from operational requirements. By taking advantage of the slope of the land, grape delivery and processing could be gravity fed. The Rothbury Estate soon began to draw visitors to wine festivals and wine auctions, fulfilling Evans’s aim to demystify wine drinking. Although the building has been extended and the winery has changed hands, the intended approach through the vineyard and the Great Cask Hall can still be appreciated today.

Winemaking

Early morning harvesting ensures optimum freshness for the grapes. The harvest date is carefully chosen to ensure fruit is at the best ripeness level. Traditional vinification takes place in temperature controlled steel vats with just enough natural tannins from the grape pips and skins to temper the grapes’ lively fruitiness

Fun Fact

The Rothbury Estate Winery at Pokolbin, NSW was the first modern architecturally designed winery in Australia, setting a precedent for a distinctive Australian building typology: the ‘cellar door’.

Food pairing

A warm hearted wine for outdoor recreation and dining, this works well with all kinds of grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

Awards & Accolades

3.4 Vivino

James Halliday 

“Rothbury Estate is known for consistency with each wine release, and produces a modern and contemporary style”