Utopos - Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Utopos is located in the Barossa Valley in southern Australia . This estate was created by the “Young Winemaker of the Year 2021” Kym Teusner (of Teusner Wines) and his friend Neil Pahuja . Neil Pahuja had the desire and the financial capacity to start producing fine wines and asked Kym to help him in this endeavor. Shortly after, a vineyard that Kym had coveted since its beginnings in the Barossa Valley hit the market. The 20-hectare vineyard was therefore acquired, and Kym also kept a small part of it. The vineyard is located on Roennfeldt Road, straddling one of the highest points on the boundary between the best sub-regions of the Barossa Valley, Greenock and Marananga, perched on the northern end of the stone ridge of iron. The vineyard is made up of lean, impoverished stony soils that consistently produce low yields of high quality grapes . The exceptional geology of the site and the ability to grow grapes on these ancient and shallow soils is a major asset.
Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vines planted in 2000. The grapes are vinified separately in open vats. They go through cold maceration for 7 days, then cultured yeast is added and alcoholic fermentation begins. Two pumping overs per day are carried out. The wine is racked from the large lees in barrels after a few days of settling for malolactic fermentation. After blending, the wine is aged for 2 years in French oak barrels (500-600 litres); 40% new, the rest being second and third filling.
Grapes: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Shiraz