Wine Info
- Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 47%; Merlot 23%; Petit Verdot 13%; Cab franc 9%; Malbec 8%.
- Style: Red Blend
- Alcohol: 13.43%
- Winemaker: Mike Dobrovic
Faithful Hound 2008
Deep, black cherry colour penetrating from hue to rim. A surfeit of blackcurrant/cassis, blueberry jam and plum fruit alongside souboise, graphite, vanilla pod, tobacco and cedar wood typical of a classical styled Cabernet-based blend. Full body showing a grainy texture with mid palate richness, fresh fruits as nose amalgamated with boysenberry, damson, fruitcake, coffee bean and dried herbs (clove, anise) that finish with a powdery tannin that will need a few more years to resolve and long length making one esurient for another glass.
In the Cellar
The grapes were handpicked and crushed into stainless steel fermenters where the must was cold soaked overnight and allowed to begin fermentation spontaneously. The mash was then inoculated with a variety of cultured yeasts. The wine fermented dry on the skins, was pressed and underwent malolactic fermentation before being blended and racked to barrel for maturation. A light fining and filtration was applied just before bottling.
Total production: 4330 x 12 x 750ml
Fermentation temperature: 23° – 28° C
Wood ageing: 18 months – 18 months – 44% new and 56 % 2nd fill oak barrels (225L French Oak)
Food Suggestions
Game birds, lamb potjie, steaks, meat stews, creamy pastas and gooey cheeses.
Aging Potential
Whilst drinking now, the fine grained tannins will resolve further over the next few years. Drink 2011 to 2019.
Blend Information
Cabernet Sauvignon 47%; Merlot 23%; Petit Verdot 13%; Cab franc 9%; Malbec 8%.
In the Vineyard
Soil Type: Tukulu, Oak leaf and Decomposed Malmesbury Shale
Age of vines: 12 – 21 years
Trellising: Vertical Trellis
Irrigation: Yes, mostly drip irrigation and some dry landation
About the Harvest
Picking date: End of February to end March 2008
Yield: 7 tonnes per hectare
Grape Sugar: 23° to 24.5° Balling at harvest
Acidity: 3.6 to 6.0
pH at harvest: 3.4 to 3.6
Technical Analysis
Winemaker: Mike Dobrovic
Main Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13.43 %vol
pH: 3.52
RS: 3.5 g/l
Total Acid: 6.1 g/l
SO2: 60 mg/l
Free SO2: 13 mg/l
Extract: 38.1
Balling: 23-24.5°
Yield: 7 ton/H
Appellation: Stellenbosch
Accolades
- International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2006 – Bronze
- Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2006 – Bronze (70/100)
- 93 Vintage: 4 stars in John Platter’s; 4 stars Wine Magazine – August 1996 edition; awarded “User-friendly Red Oscar” for 1996 by Cape Town’s Wine Warehouse.
- 95 Vintage: 4 stars in John Platter’s; 3 stars Wine Magazine – September 1998 edition.
- 96 Vintage: 3 stars in John Platter’s; Honorary Diploma – 1999 Expovina International Wine Award in Zurich.
- 97 Vintage: 3 starsWine Magazine – September 2000 edition.
- 99 Vintage: 3½ stars Wine Magazine – December 2001.
- 00 Vintage: 90 points in Wine Spectator; Silver award at Expovina in Zurich.
- 01 Vintage: Silver medal at Fairbairn Capital SA Trophy Wine Show; 4 stars in John Platter
- 02 Vintage: 4 stars in John Platter
- 03 Vintage: 4 stars in John Platter; Rated 89/100 by Steve Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar (USA); 86/100 in USA Wine Spectator – September 2006 edition; 86/100 in USA Wine & Spirits – February 2007 edition
- 04 Vintage: 4 stars in John Platter 2008
Other Vintages
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2007 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2005 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2004 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2003 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2002 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2001 – Mike Dobrovic; Merlot
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2000 – Mike Dobrovic; Cabernet Sauvignon
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1999 – Mike Dobrovic; Merlot
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1998 – Mike Dobrovic
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1997 – Mike Dobrovic
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1996 – Mike Dobrovic
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1995 – Mike Dobrovic
- Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 1994 – Mike Dobrovic
