Bottling : Bottled at SICSOE
Packaging : Branded case of 6 upright bottles

Ageing of the wine : The majority of the grapes are vinified in the traditional Bordeaux way: the bunches are totally de-stemmed and the grapes fermented, in vat, at between 27 and 32oC to extract colour and tannins. There follows a period of vatting (15-21 days) to give the wines their characteristic Bordeaux structure and the potential to age well. To maximize the fruit,however, the remaining proportion of grapes undergoes carbonic maceration. Once the different vats are blended, Sirius is aged in French oak barriques for 12 months.

Alcohol volume : 12% vol.
Final blend : 55 % Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Volume bottled : 500 000 bottles
Date of bottling : 5th of June, 2003

Vintage information : Thanks to a particularly mild, wet winter (the region had a year's average rainfall in 6 months!) the vines' cycle was well in advance. May and June saw higher than average temperatures than for previous years, which meant the flowering period was over quickly and was very even. July saw stormy weather but the key month of August was hot, dry and sunny followed by cooler weather just before the harvest which was beneficial in that it allowed the tannins to mature slowly, resulting in complex, elegant, yet fruit-driven wines.



Tasting notes : Full of flavour and body, Sirius 2001 shows all the characteristics of a great Bordeaux : balance, finesse and elegance. Its colour is a slightly evolved ruby . On the nose, this wine is fresh and elegant with aromas of cherries, coffee and tobacco. On the palate, it is rich, full-bodied and one can find a peppery touch which mingles with more roasted aromas. On the finish, fine and lingering tannins give this wine a superb length, all finesse and elegance.

Chemical analysis :

analyse_sirius_r_2001.pdf

Ageing : It will express its complexity better from 2004 to 2007.