Temple Bruer Cabernet Shiraz Mataro 2022 (Organic, Preservative Free & Vegan)

Temple Bruer had long dreamt of bringing their own estate-grown Preservative Free Cabernet Shiraz Mataro to fruition, and they're thrilled it is now available!

In 2021, Temple Bruer acquired not one, but two exquisite Riverland vineyards with gorgeous old vines. They are putting enormous effort into reworking both properties to the high Temple Bruer standard of sustainable and organic viticulture.

The Riverland has continental climate where there are warm, long sunny days with cool nights. Both the climate and the soils produce ripe and rich fruit, that sees little disease pressure due to low humidity, which makes the region perfect for growing Certified Organic grapes.

David Bruer’s favourite Riverland blend, known to many as the ‘Australian blend’. It has been Temple Bruer's passion project to introduce an estate-grown, preservative-free, Riverland Cabernet Shiraz Mataro.

The acquisition of two sensational Riverland vineyards at Cobdogla and Loxton with phenomenal old vines on loam over clay, river valley soils, mean they can bring this iconic variety to their range.

The cabernet sauvignon brings elegance and lift to the rich, ripe, red fruit flavours and velvety structure of shiraz.

The shiraz was picked at approximately 13.5 Baumé in mid February, the cabernet was picked in mid March at 13.5 Baumé, and finally the mataro was picked in mid April at 13 Baumé. All the fruit was picked with a selective sorter, which ensures only the best quality fruit arrives at the winery. As the different parcels arrived at the winery with a month between them, all parcels were handled and fermented separately. The fruit was de-stemmed only, and cooled down to 8ºC for a cold soaking, which helps with extraction of colour and flavour without extraction of harsh tannin. The grapes were then warmed and fermented for 10 days, they were fermented to dry and MLF completed 2 weeks after. The wine then had French oak for 5-6 months and was bottled in early September 2022. No sulphur dioxide was used.

A strong 2022 vintage from high-quality fruit and low to moderate yields with excellent natural acidity from an overall cool vintage with extended ripening periods for most varieties. Perhaps one of the longest vintages we have experienced, harvest continued for 11 weeks from early February to late April.