Heartland Stickleback Red Blend 2021

Heartland Stickleback Red Blend

The Stickleback blend is chosen for optimum flavour and texture, with each variety bringing a unique character to the wine.

Good winter rainfall offered cover crops for a moisture-retaining mulch throughout the dry spring and summer. The lack of rainfall over the growing period led to lower yields. Summer saw mostly cool temperatures and an early vintage with most fruit off by early April. The Langhorne Creek wine region benefits from cooling afternoon breezes from Lake Alexandrina and this season was no exception. The welcome breezes helped keep overnight temperatures down, enabling fruit to maintain natural acidity.

Each individual variety was fermented on skins for 5 days before pressing. Maturation in 2 and 3-year-old oak barrels. All ferments were kept cool to enhance the aromatics and to keep the tannins soft.

A new vintage means a new blend for Stickleback Red.  2015 is a blend of 74% Cabernet, 24% Shiraz and 2% Lagrein.  Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz give this wine a rich, savoury character and good structure. A splash of Lagrein contributes spice & tannin. The tightness and structure of the Lagrein, pulls the wine together and makes this blend a perfect match with food.