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Le Riche Cabernet Reserve
Our flagship wine… Reserve status is only endowed if the grapes and resulting wine measures up to exceptional standard. Hand selected grapes from older, lower yielding vines are used. Fermentation is done with a selected yeast strain under controlled temperatures and manual plunging during this period ensures optimal colour extraction. After five days the tanks are closed and allowed to macerate for a further period, normally 10-14 days. Pressing follows and the wine is transferred to tanks for the secondary (malolactic) fermentation. On completion a final quality check and analysis is performed and the Reserve is then transferred to 225ml French oak barrels (70% new) for 24 months. Bottling is followed by hand labelling and further bottle maturation.
This full bodied, elegant wine is remarkably aromatic with layers of clean sweet cedary oak. On the palate it is supple, succulent and rich. The tannins are firm but not aggressive and there is underlying structure and fruit in the wine that promises even more complexity with further maturation in the bottle.
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Le Riche Cabernet
Cellar treatment involves five days maceration in open tanks with temperature control and regular manual plunging and pump-overs. Matured for 18 months in barrel before bottling. Spicy oak and ripe cherry flavours are balanced by soft, elegant tannins with a firm structure and a lingering, succulent aftertaste. Should benefit from a further 5 years of maturation, but also enjoyable at the moment.
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Le Riche Cabernet / Merlot
Our blend is fermented separately in traditional open fermenters for 5 days on the skins. Blending takes place before secondary fermentation and the wine is then aged in 225 litre French barrels (second fill) for 18 months. This wine has a remarkable depth of deep red colour. The bouquet shows a pepperiness, sweet fruit and subtle oak. On the palate the tannins are soft, juicy and succulent, with a firm acidity that contributes to a lingering, appetising aftertaste.
The 2004 had 6% Shiraz blended in, which added an interesting savoury character.
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Le Riche Chardonnay
This is our first release of a Chardonnay! Hand selected grape bunches were delicately pressed and then fermented and aged in barriques. Thereafter the wine was kept on the lees for four months ensuring a delicate complexity. Crisp, lemony freshness, balanced by lively acidity and firm structure on the palate.
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Le Riche Grand Vin de Terroir
Etienne consults in Bergerac / France and in return makes his own wine there, which is imported after ageing, bottling and labelling. Open tank fermentation takes place with manual plunging and malolactic fermentation in closed tanks. The wine spends 15 months maturating in French oak, 50% new. A typical floral Merlot fruitiness on the bouquet is balanced with the soft tannin structure of Cabernet on the palate. The firm, appetising acidity also ensures good ageing potential. An interesting comparison to the local wines! Limited production.
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