Boxwood Estate Reserve Red 2015

An attractive pale salmon color, complex nose of very agreeable aromas predominantly white flowers and white pepper with underlying notes of apricot. The body is medium with a rounded palate of flavors including honeydew and lychees with refreshing acidity that is balanced and lingering. It has a medium long finish leaving an impression of aromatic vivacity.

Boxwood Estate Rose is made from 41% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 12% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot.

This rosé wine is a blend of one-third whole cluster pressed Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes and two-thirds saignée from Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The whole cluster portion was harvested in early September when the grapes were ripe enough to lend good fruit character and bright acidity to the wine without adding too dark a color. The saignée portion developed as the various red grapes were harvested throughout the season from mid-September to mid-October. All grapes were hand harvested in bright sunshine. Juice was clarified, then cool fermented using specific cultured yeasts. It was blended in early January.

Winemaker: Zane Katsikis

Boxwood Estate Sauvignon Blanc is made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.

A pale lemon color reflects an overall citrusy bouquet and flavor profile, captured by bursts of fresh, bright acidity. Lemons and lime zest, as well as passionfruit and pear dance along the mid-palate, accentuated by a creamy and luxurious finish.

Boxwood Estate Topiary is made from 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot.

The Topiary is a dark garnet color. A delicate floral nose of violet and lilac lingers through to the palate, blooming into plush dark flavors of blueberry, blackberry and plum. A strong fruit character leads into woody tannin and subtle hints of graphite, challenging the norms of Merlot-based Bordeaux blends with its lively fruitiness and a lengthy and full-bodied finish.

Hand harvested, triple sorted, destemmed, gravity fed into open-top stainless steel fermenters
• 15% bleed, whole berry fermentation separate by varietal
• Pump over, 100% manual punch down, 8 day fermentation 14 day post fermentation maceration
• Pumped into barrel, free run separated from press wine (1st press only)
• Malolactic fermentation in barrel
• Aging in French oak barrels for 12 months, 33% new / 33% 1 year / 33% 2 year
Review:

"A ripe and polished Bordeaux blend showing ripe redcurrants and blackberries, plus savory and herbal notes. At once creamy and dry with a long, even finish. A blend of 71 per cent merlot, 23 per cent cabernet franc and six per cent petit verdot. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (October 2018), 91 pts

Boxwood Estate Trellis is made from 73% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

The  Trellis has a bright cherry color. The nose is expressive with aromas of red cherry, raspberry, tobacco, and dried herbs. The pallet is balanced with medium acidity and a medium body. There is prominent raspberry and pomegranate on the pallet. Light dusty tannins fill out the finish of the wine.

Hand harvested, triple sorted, destemmed, gravity fed into open-top stainless steel fermenters
20% bleed, whole berry fermentation separate by varietal
Pump over, 100% manual punch down, 21 day total maceration
Pumped into barrel, free run separated from press wine (1st press only)
Malolactic fermentation in barrel

Aging in French oak barrels for 12 months, 12% new, 44% one year and 44% two year

Lismore Estate Reserve Viognier is made from 100 percent Viognier. 

This a Greyton WO.

Balance is the key to this wine. Viognier is an aromatic and generous varietal, it benefits from barrel maturation and lees contact with a fuller mouth feel and increased texture. This combined with the firm acid backbone and intense fruit will allow this wine to integrate beautifully and gain further complexity over the next 3-5 years.

Rich, lush and decadent. Viognier is a gorgeous variety. Honeysuckle, peaches and dried apricot with a lingering citrus finish. A clean fresh acidity supports the extravagance of the nose and the palate.

Viognier, a traditional Rhone variety is perfectly suited to Lismore’s cool-climate terrior. The vineyard block is on decomposed shale and one of the healthiest and well balanced on the farm. The entire team looks forward to the Viognier harvest and the beautiful amber tinged berries.

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 500ltrs per ton. The juice was settled for 48 hours and was racked into burgundian barriques (1st fill) for fermentation and maturation. The wine was left on the lees with regular “batonnage” for 11 months.

 Lighter styles are often paired with curries and the like. This Viognier is different. We recommend medium bodied meals that are intense and complex. For example:

- Sesame encrusted tuna marinated in a blend of orange, lemon and lime juice spiced with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar – seared on a wood fired grill and served with griddled vegetables, or
- Free range duck breast smoked with Darjeeling tea and coriander leaves. Set on a cinnamon poached pear glazed with a gooseberry jus.
In both of these dishes, the fruit and floral aspects of the wine are complimented by the exotic and aromatic elements in the dish which are also highlighted by the spiciness from the oak fermentation; the fresh acidity freshens the palate, and yet the Lismore Viognier has the body to hold up against the weight of the duck or the tuna. It is also gorgeous with a well laid cheese platter.

Review:

"One of two Lismore estate Viogniers reviewed in my 2019 report, this comes from a 0.3-hectare block that was planted 13 years ago. Rich, complex and concentrated, it has pear and apricot fruit, a hint of nectarine and a patina of vanilla and cinnamon spice. 2019-23 Greyton (14%)" - Tim Atkin (South Africa 2019 Special Report), 94 pts

55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.

The color is deep dark ruby. limpid and brilliant. The nose is intense and complex with hints of blackberries, sweet spicies, noble plain chocolate and Vanilla. The palate is full bodied, very long with well integrated tannins. The finish is very fresh and luscious with toasted notes in the background.

Average age of the vines is 30 years.
Manual harvest from September 21th to October 7th 2015.
Upon arrival at the winery, only the best grapes were selected using a sorting table.
Skin contact maceration during 2 weeks in temperature controlled vats.
Aged 12 months in Oak barrels. (1/3 new oak, 1/3 1 year old and 1/3 two year old barrels). They use 60% French Oak and 40% American Oak.

Served with red meat (beef filet, sirloin),  pork tenderloin, roasted duck breast with honey&orange sauce, roasted lamb with thyme, poultry and fine cheese.

Review:

"Based on 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec, the 2015 Chateau Brule Secaille Grande Reserve Cotes de Bourg spent a year in 40% American oak, with one-third being new. Black fruits, spicy oak, underbrush, and cedar notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, nicely textured, balanced 2015 that has solid mid-palate depth and ample fruit. It’s a fleshy, charming effort that has loads of character."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 90 pts