2015 Wantirna Estate 'Amelia' Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot 750ml

Overview

The 2015 Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Merlot is an elegant, mature Australian red wine from the Yarra Valley, Victoria. Produced predominantly from the estate's original dry-grown vines planted in 1963, this 750ml Bordeaux-style blend combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The outstanding 2015 vintage displays fragrant blackcurrant and boysenberry fruit, subtle mint and cocoa, and beautifully refined tannins. With its graceful structure, remarkable balance and long ageing potential, Amelia exemplifies the finesse of historic Yarra Valley Cabernet.

Critic Reviews

95/100 — Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
“Composure is an underrated virtue. The balance, the grace, the unhurried feel”
Tasted October 2017

Tyson Stelzer — Top Nine Australian Estates for 2018
The 2015 Amelia was featured in Tyson Stelzer's recognition of Wantirna Estate.
“Density meets elegance in a very long finish”
Published 2018

Producer Notes

The fruit was just so fragrant yet still with that savoury character that keeps the wine from being simply fruity.

Maryann Egan, Winemaker — 2015 Vintage

Vintage & Winemaking

The 2015 Yarra Valley growing season was notably early, although mild summer conditions allowed the grapes to ripen steadily without excessive heat. The resulting fruit exhibited excellent fragrance, balanced ripeness and distinctive savoury complexity.

Merlot was harvested on 10 March, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon from 17 March, with the final Petit Verdot picked on 23 March 2015.

The 2015 Amelia blend comprised approximately 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and Cabernet Franc combined, with the remaining 10% Petit Verdot. The later-fermenting Petit Verdot contributed additional flavour concentration, natural structure and extended skin contact, helping develop the wine's fine, silky tannins.

Amelia Vineyard

A large proportion of Amelia's fruit comes from Wantirna Estate's original Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines planted in 1963. Petit Verdot was subsequently established in 1989, adding depth, tannin structure and natural acidity to the blend.

The vineyard is entirely dry-grown, without irrigation. Its mature vines develop deep root systems that penetrate the clay soils in search of natural moisture. This combination of vine age, established root systems and careful vineyard management is fundamental to Amelia's intensity, elegance and distinctive expression of Yarra Valley terroir.

About the Producer

Wantirna Estate was established in 1963 by Reg and Bertina Egan, making it a pioneering vineyard of the modern Yarra Valley wine revival. Situated in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, the small family-owned estate has retained many of its original vine plantings and remains dedicated to producing elegant, site-driven wines.

Winemaking is led by Maryann Egan, whose experience includes Burgundy, Bordeaux and Domaine Chandon. The estate is particularly celebrated for its refined Cabernet blends, combining the character of mature, dry-grown vineyards with traditional winemaking and an emphasis on balance, finesse and longevity.

Specifications