Winemakers Marsovin are about to release the 17th vintage of the prized Grand Maître, produced from grapes grown in Għajn Riħana.
‘Annata Fra Raphael de Cotoner’ is to be released on Tuesday October 4.
This 2014 vintage is dedicated to Grand Master Annata Fra Raphael Cotoner, the 60th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He was the first of two Spanish brothers who between them were to reign for two decades, a period in time which brought grandeur to the Order in Malta.
Marsovin’s Grand Maître is a wine dedicated to the Grand Masters of Malta by special appointment to the Maltese Association Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Each vintage is dedicated to a different Grand Master in chronological order, the first one being Philippe Villiers de L’Isle Adam for the 1998 vintage.
Grand Maître wines are a premium blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. 2014 was the third warmest year on record and the vintage climatic conditions were characterised by the generally brighter, drier and less windy conditions than average throughout the year with a relatively cooler, windier July and the hottest September on record.
Overall these conditions resulted in an excellent and very healthy grape maturity with a substantial but lower harvest yield in comparison to that of the previous year, producing a very approachable and elegant wine characterised by its typical fruity bouquet, velvety smooth tannins, brought about by over 12 months ageing in new French Barriques.
The resulting wine has a very pleasant, long, lingering finish and will mature well for at least 8 to 10 years in the right storage conditions.
Situated between the Bidnija hills and Wardija in the north of Malta, Marsovin’s Għajn Riħana estate spans an area of 1.6 hectares. The vineyard is densely planted with 14,000 vines of two noble French grape varieties, made up of equal quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The arid land and clay-rich, calcareous soil provide a tough growing environment for these vines. The yields from this estate generally produce very concentrated full bodied wines of intense fruit and aromatic character
Grand Maître is available in wooden boxes of 6 and 3 bottles, as well as single bottles being offered in an exclusively designed complimentary presentation box.