Attractive brambly red fruit, as well as gently sappy notes and fresh bracken. This smells quite pure and fresh. The palate has athletic tannin structure that swirls around a central core of ripe red-fruit flavors. Well structured and drinkable. Drink or hold. Points: 93/100
A blend of 91% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec and 2% Merlot that was sourced from a 0.9 Hectare block that was planted in 2013. Whole berries were crushed before a cold soak, wild yeast fermentation and ageing in a mix of new and old French oak. There is a lovely interplay between tart red cherry, cranberry and a ferrous earthen influence that combines with a sheath of new oak spice on the nose. The palate has a herbaceous edge to red cherry that positively soaks up the influence of new oak; providing both a mint chocolate richness and adding to the tannin structure of the wine. The length to finish is exceptional. Points: 95/100
Strong fruit, strong tannin and strong oak. It’s balanced within its own world but this is a heavy hitter. A big serve of resiny vanilla, mint, chocolate, steel and redcurrant, with plum notes drenching the palate. Dry, rusty herbs, the leftovers from a couple of summers ago combine with florals, old too, dried too. Less oak would have been good but this is a wine set up to age. Strong arms, this one. Ropes of tannin territory. Points: 93/100
Hand picked 22nd March. Destemmed and whole-berry sorted, gentle crush. Cold soak and wild ferment. Pumped over daily, 15 days on skins. Basket pressed with light pressings included with free-run juice. Racked and returned twice during 15 months’ maturation in fine-grained French oak (50% new). The quality of fruit, tannic precision and apposite application of oak under this banner are unequalled in Australia. Nobody else gets it quite as right. The budget and gear help, yet it is the viticulture and sites that are the foundation for everything else. Franc from a warm place, salvaging its sappy cavalcade of tannin, crunch and floral lift. Redcurrant, spearmint and chilli powder lace a finely tuned finish marked by a flourish of garden herb. Kerpow! Erin Larkin Points: 96/100
