Vintage 2011...Bringing in the 2011 Cabernet

Getting toward the end of our long, late, cool vintage of 2011 and it's time to head up into the Moonambel Hills again for a look at how the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is travelling.

Some brilliant work in the vineyard throughout the growing season has kept the floods and the rot at bay, and we've got some gorgeous big black bunches hanging there, ready for picking.

Always hard of course to judge what this season's weather will do over the next week or so, so it's time to work out whether to take the leap and start picking.

Johnno checks the sugar content on the refractometer, basically a prism that reacts differently according to the sugar content of the sample inside it. With the Cabernet at 12.5 Baumé, and the weather ahead looking let's say, a little dodgy... 

It's time to get in the fruit, about 7 tonnes, and start the fermentation for our 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Follow that Cab....

Ok, so after a few weeks fermenting in our big new shiny open-top fermenters, the 2010 Mitchell Harris Cabernet has been drained out, and hits the presses today. Nice work Johnno, you deserve a beer.

Beautiful fruit from our Moonambel vineyard looks like it'll make one of our best vintages yet, and now set for a stint in our snappy new French Oak barrels.

Stay tuned for more progress...

Mitchell Harris Cabernet 2010 - a work in progress...

A few snaps from this week, showing that winemaking isn't all sitting on a verandah watching the sun set over the vineyard.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon in our open-top fermenters.

If you look closely you can probably even see Johnno breaking a sweat in some of these shots!

Things look promising for a top vintage 2010...

The Age Epicure Review - Mitchell Harris Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

After a winter of our Cabernet being snapped up into restaurants all over town, we've finally hit the broadsheets with its first press review in today's (21st July 2009) Epicure section of The Age.

We're rapt with the review by Ralph Kyte-Powell, albeit they put the wrong bottle shot (!) next to it!

For those of you sticklers who want to see the REAL BOTTLE here 'tis...

Mitchell Harris Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $20-$22

Made using organically grown grapes from Victoria's Pyrenees, the experience of John Harris in Victorian wineries shows. Blackcurrant, mulberry, dark chocolate and light minty aromas. The medium-bodied palate has silky texture, subtle savoury flavour and fine-grained tannins.

(13.5 per cent alcohol; screw cap)

Ageing? Drink over four years.

Food ideas Lamb cutlets; Vietnamese mint-wrapped beef.

Stockists include King & Godfree, Carlton; Decanters by the Bay, Port Melbourne

4.5 Stars, $$$

Not bad really, eh? Could probably go some of that Vietnamese mint-wrapped beef tonight actually...

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is disappearing pretty quickly now, but you can still pick some up at our retailers, or join or mailing list for special prices on the entire MH range. Drop us an email here.

The tasting notes are available on the Mitchell Harris website by clicking here.