Churchview Estate St Johns Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot

Description

Churchview Estate St Johns Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot is a classic “Bordeaux Style” red wine blend from Margaret River. These grape varieties grow very well in Margaret River.

Churchview Estate is an award-winning, family-owned wine producer located in the Margaret River wine-growing region of Western Australia. The estate was founded in 1999 by father and son team Spike and Raymond Fokkema and is situated near the locality of Metricup just off the Bussell Highway. Spike had emigrated from The Netherlands in the 1950s and had been a successful businessman prior to purchase. Today  the estate is owned and run by Raymond Fokkema and his sister Sharon Bosveld (who joined the family business over 20 years ago). The winemaker is David Longden. Churchview Estate was awarded with a 5 star winery rating in James Halliday’s 2016 and 2020 classifications.

The estate takes it name from the view of the heritage listed Anglican Church of Saint John the Baptist which can be seen from the estate. The single vineyard estate comprises some 100 hectares with 56 hectares of vines. The site was carefully selected for its maritime climate, ideal and fertile gravelly loam soils, ample clean water and north facing slopes and 16 different grapes varieties are grown. Organic certification was awarded in 2020.

Churchview Estate estate produces several different ranges of wine, the flagship wines are the limited release, handcrafted Bartondale range, which is named after the dairy farm that was originally on the site. There follows the St Johns range, made from more unusual grape varieties, which is named after aforementioned, neighbouring church. There is also the fruit driven Silverleaf range.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that go into the Churchview Estate St Johns Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot are the same as those that go into flagship Bartondale range. The more fruit -driven barrels are chosen for the St Johns range. The Cabernet spends 30 days on skins followed by around 16 months in a combination of new and used French oak barriques. The Malbec grapes are vinified to highlight dark colour and a rich mid-palate. Usually the Malbec spends 16 days on skins,  then goes into two new French oak barriques with the balance matured in 2-4 year old French oak barriques for 16 months. Malbec barrels selected for the blend to add weight richness and intensity. The Merlot spends 10-14 days on skins, ensuring red fruits and soft tannins. It is then aged for 14 months in 2-3 year old French oak barriques. Petit Verdot adds an intense lifted aromatic component to the blend with fine tannins, adding to the backbone. With superb wines, assemblage is always a difficult and lengthy process to achieve the blend required.

Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.