2023 Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

Clare Valley

Red meat

2023

A deep, saturated crimson, with purple hues at the rim.

A lifted and vibrant bouquet of dark fruits - bramble, black cherry and blackcurrant, interwoven with earthy undertones of forest floor.

Boldly flavoured and complex, the palate opens with rich fruit notes and hints of satsuma plum and charred oak, adding a savoury edge to the rich fruit profile. The tannins are dense yet finely textured, delivering a smooth, polished mouthfeel. Impeccably balanced, the wine carries through to a long, persistent finish.

15+ years.

Fruit is sourced from two subregions within the Clare Valley: the organically certified, dry grown and low yielding 'Doctor's Block' in the Polish Hill River region, and the Armagh vineyard, which produces fruit from 50-year-old dry grown vines. The loam soils are comprised of sand, silt and clay, which support the root structure of the vine, influence the drainage levels and affect the amount of minerals and nutrients that the vine is exposed to - in short, they are vital in producing good quality fruit.

Fermented in two and four tonne fermeneters - using natural yeast and hand-plunged - the fruit was not crushed, just de-stemmed. The berries were slowly broken over the 14 day ferment. The wine was then left on skins for 25 days to enhance tannin complexity and maximise flavour and length. Pressed and racked to oak after four days (15% new French oak; 85% one- and two-year-old French oak) for a total of eighteen months.

Alcohol - 14.5%

pH - 3.45

Acidity - 7g/L

97 Points - Winepilot 

"Sourced from the sub-regions of Polish Hill River and Armagh. Aromas scream cabernet: blackberry, blackcurrant, a little leaf, and syrupy dark chocolate. The palate is deeply concentrated, supported by chalky tannins and plenty of oak, yet perfectly balanced. Drives through to an extended finish. Tremendous cellaring potential yet delicious already." - Ray Jordan 

95 Points - The Real Review 

"Very deep, saturated purple colour with aromas of red and dark fruits—raspberry, redcurrant, cranberry... Very intense, full-bodied flavour with concentration and focus, the balance is impeccable and persistence is very long. The fruit flavours are deep-seated and the tannins are abundant, fine-grained and well matched to the body of the wine. Impressive wine with a huge future." - Huon Hooke

93 Points - Winepilot