2019 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Sourced from our two Estate vineyard blocks of SA125 clone Cabernet Sauvignon. All fruit was hand-picked (over 4 separate days to achieve a range of ripeness levels), hand-sorted, destemmed and crushed to small open vats. Stalks were added back to select parcels for additional complexity. A mix of natural fermentation and inoculated varietally-compatible yeasts. Cuvaison length ranging from 1 to 5 weeks on skins. Hand-plunged a maximum of once per day. Small additions of Block 10 D3V14-clone Merlot and Block 7 CW14-clone Malbec were included at blending for enhanced mid-palate weight and vibrancy.

2019 proved a particularly solid and favourable year for building wines of distinction, concentration and complexity. The late season Cabernet Sauvignon benefited greatly, showing taut slow-building power in a medium-bodied framework with restraint and precision. This timelessly refined varietal expression is the result of an assemblage of fourteen individual small batches sourced from Blocks 8, 10 and 11 on our Maroondah Highway vineyard. Intense signature aromas of blackberry, red currant, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, candied citrus peel, coriander seed and freshly ploughed earth. 

The poised slow-build powerful palate delivers nerve, verve and drive from the interplay of defined natural acidity and wash of juicy red fruit over the mid-palate with supporting flavours of bramble, chicory, smoked paprika and chargrilled meats. Oak character is quietly supportive in concert with cumulative fine-grained tannins. An absolute classic representation of the suitability of this revered variety to our region, this wine confidently pushes through the palate to a long and reverberate finish. 

This wine is suitable for vegans.