Cape Crest '14

Tasting Notes 2014

A tropical dream of passionfruit, guava and lime. Enticing layers of toasted almonds and freshly baked brioche. With beautifully-integrated oak, the generous palate is lifted by hints of honeysuckle, nectarine and grapefruit. Refreshing, fruity, complex and elegant – this is signature Cape Crest – the best we’ve ever made. Stunning.

Cape Crest ’14 is a blend of 87% sauvignon blanc, 10% semillon, and 3% sauvignon gris. Closed with leading technology ‘DIAM’ corks. A technical cork, these eliminate any possibility of cork taint and, when Cape Crest is well cellared, they provide consistent evolution for every bottle. Cape Crest ’14 will continue to develop in bottle for five years from harvest.

Technical Analysis

pH: 3.22
Total acidity as tartaric: 6.8g/l
Alcohol: 13%
Residual sugar: Dry

Winemaking

The separate parcels were each destemmed and lightly crushed, then cooled before a brief period of skin contact. Following pressing and cold-settling, they were run to a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels for fermentation. The resulting wines were aged on lees, with regular stirring, for a further eight months before blending in January 2015. The blend was returned to tank for further maturation on fine lees, before fining and bottling.

Vineyards

The fully ripe grapes for Cape Crest ’14 were hand harvested from individual plots within Te Mata Estate’s vineyards between 10 and 12 March 2014.

Origin

Cape Crest and its gannet symbol refer to Cape Kidnappers, the southern point of Hawke Bay, home to the world’s largest mainland colony of these remarkable marine birds.

View this Tasting Note as a PDF.