Complex and elegant, offering rich fruit characters of cassis and blackcurrant with earthy nuances. French oak giving hints of cedar and tobacco to finish.

Dry/Sweet
dry
semi sweet
sweet
wine body
light
medium
full
Oak
none
some
plenty
grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

blend or single variety

Single Variety

region

Clare Valley

colour

At release, the wine is a dark red colour with a faint brick red hue to the edge.

nose

The wine has lifted and distinctly varietal aromas of cassis, dark cherries, choc-mint and sweet spice along with fresh, vibrant blackcurrant fruit and subtle cigar and tobacco from the oak.

palate

On the palate it is a very well-balanced wine with ripe blackcurrant characters, along with chocolate and mint intermingling harmoniously with oak characters of cedar and subtle tobacco. There is an understated power to the wine, with layers of complexity building across the palate and then finishing elegantly with long, fine tannins. It is a generous wine yet retains poise and the elegance of great Cabernet Sauvignon.

vintage conditions

Vintage 2009 was near on perfect in the Clare Valley. It was characterized by optimal growing conditions and soil moisture levels near full capacity due to the welcome winter rains. Mild weather continued during December and January, gradually warming to the point where we experienced a severe heat-wave. Thankfully the vines had not yet begun veraison, so in the heat, they simply shut down for a few days. Strong canopies protected the fruit and mature leaves withstood the high temperatures. Fortunately, when the heat subsided the region experienced perfect ripening weather with mild days and cool nights. The wines from vintage 2009 are exceptionally well balanced; showing rich, varietal fruit flavours.

cellaring notes

Crafted for immediate enjoyment but will cellar over a long term under ideal conditions.

alcohol volume

14.50%

acid

6.30

pH

3.44

residual sugar

1.12

pack size

Single: 750ml bottle, Case: 6 x 750ml bottle

previous vintages

2006