Delicata’s very first Vendange Tardive or Late Harvest wine will be released on to the market next week. The medal winning Grand Vin de Hauteville Cabernet Sauvignon has not only been upgraded to D.O.K. Superior status but it has also achieved another level of enhanced grape processing methods as laid out in the official production protocols for the D.O.K. wines of Malta and Gozo. For either of these three terms, Vendange Tardive, Late Harvest or Vendemmia Tardiva to be used on a label, 100% of the wine has to be obtained from grapes which have been left on the vine and undergone a partial drying process resulting in the concentration of grape sugars to a minimum natural alcoholic strength of 13.5% vol.

Although late harvested grapes are used primarily for the production of white wines or sweet wines there are growing trends, especially in California and Australia, where grape varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (Shiraz) and Zinfandel are being late picked to make more concentrated red wines. At a recent seminar in America special attention was also given to some red wines from the Italian region of Veneto where late harvested Cabernet Sauvignon and Bardolino Superior’s did particularly well in tastings.
Even late harvested Rose wines in Romania have been released in the last few years.

In previous vintages the Grand Vin de Hauteville Cabernet Sauvignon has been awarded a number of international medals including a Silver at the International Wine Challenge in London and a Gold at the International Challenge du Vin in Bordeaux. The new 2008 Vendange Tardive Cabernet Sauvignon, which has been matured in French oak barriques, is full bodied and concentrated with ripe, rich, sweet fruit flavours on the palate. The wine has soft mellow tannins and a pleasant lengthy finish. It will make the ideal accompaniment to red meats, game, stews and casseroles and strong cheeses. Preferably open the wine and allow it to breathe for at least one hour before drinking.  So if you are thinking of ordering a bottle in a restaurant to drink with your main course, get the wine waiter to open it up, and preferably decant, as soon as you can. Finally, although this wine is okay to drink now it will keep for at least 5 – 8 years if stored correctly.