Cabernet Sauvignon by Graceland Vineyards 2014

Graceland, a charming boutique winery, is proudly owned and operated by Susan and Paul McNaughton. Their family-centric approach to winemaking, with a particular focus on crafting exquisite red wines, sets them apart. Susan, the driving force behind the winery, wears multiple hats as the marketer, winemaker, and viticulturist, while Paul diligently tends to the farm's administrative and financial needs. During the bustling harvest season, everyone pitches in, including their children and even their four-legged companions.

At the heart of Graceland's winemaking philosophy lies their vineyard, where they abstain from using insecticides and minimize spraying. They place great emphasis on meticulous pruning, maintaining the canopy, and limiting production to ensure the highest quality grapes. The pivotal decision of when to harvest is made annually, and it's done in small batches according to the microclimate, which determines the optimal ripeness of each row of vines.

When it comes to winemaking, Graceland takes a natural and minimalistic approach, using only grapes and nitrogen. Their use of sulfur dioxide is notably lower than the industry average. The grapes are carefully destemmed and placed in open fermenters, where the skins undergo hand-plunging four times a day. After eight days, the wine is pressed, with both pressed wine and free run wine combined. It is then transferred to oak barrels where malolactic fermentation occurs.

These techniques are all geared towards minimal intervention, with oxidative rackings playing a pivotal role. This oxidation process encourages the unstable color, tannin, and flavours to meld and precipitate out of the wine, effectively eliminating any off-putting odors. What remains are wines with a stable composition that promise excellent aging potential, likely between 7 to 10 years.