# Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon (2020)

- **Producer:** Moss Wood
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Western Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** violet, blackcurrant, black cherry, red plum, cedar, cloves, chocolate, vanilla, leather, tar, earth

## About this wine

The Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a full-bodied red wine from Margaret River, Western Australia, produced by Moss Wood. The 2020 vintage was a warm and early season with moderate temperatures, though hail damage affected grape yields. The wine's blend includes 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Moss Wood was established in 1969 by Dr. Bill and Sandra Pannell, with Keith and Clare Mugford leading the winery since the mid-1980s. The winery is known for its commitment to low-yield viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking.

## Interesting facts

- The estate vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon vines were first planted in 1969.
- The 2020 growing season experienced a 'Goldilocks-like' temperature of 20.4°C.
- Hail damage significantly reduced the yield for this vintage.
- The blend includes a slightly higher percentage of Petit Verdot than usual.

## Food pairing

The wine's concentrated tannins and full body are well-suited to rich protein sources, where they can interact with the meat's fats and proteins. The dark fruit notes in the wine can complement earthy flavors found in mushrooms and root vegetables, while herbal elements in the food can echo subtle herbaceousness in the wine.

## Wine making process

The Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was produced from hand-picked and destemmed fruit, fermented in small open fermenters with controlled temperatures and hand plunging for 16 days of skin contact. Malolactic fermentation was completed in stainless steel tanks. The wine then underwent aging in 228-litre French oak barrels, with 17% new oak. It was bottled in October 2022 and released in March 2023.