Amietta Angels' Share
Introduced to our range from the 2004 vintage, the Angels’ Share has evolved from the original blend of Cabernet and Shiraz and is now a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc.
Originally we bottled a Cabernet and Shiraz blend for our personal use, and to use for topping up the barrels of red wine in the winery (to replace wine lost by evaporation through the pores in oak barrel staves). Traditionally, this wine loss was described as "The Angels' Share": wine had disappeared from the barrels because the Angels must have been drinking the wine!
2006 Angels’ Share Cabernet-Carmenère
This wine combines the elegant structure and tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), the red berry, blackcurrent, violets and briar notes of Carmenère* (35%), the red berry/floral notes of Cabernet Franc (20%). The wine clearly shows its Bordeaux/Medoc heritage, and demonstrates the fabulous potential of Carmenère on our warm-but-cool, Maritime influenced vineyard site.
The Angels' Share is a medium bodied, supple wine, showing intense flavours of black currants, mulberry, cassis, crushed leaf, violets and spices, with beautifully balanced French oak and fine tannins. Very Bordeaux, very yum!
Mailing list member Lindy Burwood says "the Angels' Share really is the most gorgeous wine ... my husband Glen always wants us to open a second bottle - even when it's just the two of us for a midweek meal!"
Cost: $35 per bottle. Buy Wine
* Carmenère is a 'lost' Bordeaux/Medoc grape variety which is part of the Cabernet family of grapes (along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot). The name comes from Carmin (meaning Crimson in French) which describes the brilliant crimson colour of the late autumn foliage just prior to leaf-fall. As a wine, Carmenère is like a very floral, full bodied and rather tannic version Merlot. Amietta was the first vineyard (apart from the propagating nursery) to plant the variety in Australia. For more further discussion on Amietta Carmenère, go to our Diary page (Sept. '07).