Production – 56 dozen
Colour: Inky Crimson
Nose: Plum jam, vanilla pods and a touch of cinnamon
Palate: Black forest gateaux and dark plums are plentiful in the glass. Rich and ripe from a warmer vintage this Cabernet franc is dense and concentrated with some underlying strawberry notes. A bright acidity envelopes the richness giving balance. Fine cocoa powder tannins finish the wines generous fruit giving length.
Vinification – The grapes had picked in the cool of the morning then placed in open fermenters where the must was innoculated with a neutral yeast and fermentation began. The cap was hand plunged four times a day in the early stages of the ferment, to extract colour and tannin. After 10 days the wine was left on the skins for extended maturation for another 5 days. The free run juice was drained and the fermented grapes where basket pressed. The wine under-went a malolactic fermentation which softens the acid. Then the wine was racked to a mix of 50% new & 50% one and two year old French barriques and matured for 12 months. The Cabernet Franc was bottled in July 2020.
Vintage Rating 9/10 –. After a wet winter, the region enjoyed an early start to the season, with warmer than average spring temperatures evolving into the perfect summer growing conditions. Low disease pressure, timely flowering of native Marri trees to keep the birds at bay and little to no rain meant that growers could literally “take their pick” when they wanted. Vintage 2020 in Margaret River was a real treat for viticulturists with the only downside of note being the lower than normal yields across all varieties, resulting in one of the smallest harvests in recent years. Yet here is the silver lining… the lower yields have resulted in exceptional fruit that is physiologically ripe and shows divine concentration of aromas and flavours. While the 2020 vintage from Margaret River will be in scarce supply, it will be a very special vintage to look out for.
Awards and Reviews:
95 points – Ray Jordan WA Wine Review 2023.
If there was ever going to be a year that suited that highly scented perfumed variety it would have to be 2020. And it hasn't disappointed. Raspberry and violet characters on the nose are so beguiling and speak much about the inherent of qualities of this variety. Seamless and gentle yet with plenty of palate intensity delivered with typical refinement and elegance. Just love it. Cellar 7 years.
Bronze 89 points James Halliday Wine Companion 2023 Edition.
This has a satisfyingly leafy, crunchy nose, leading to a cassis-laden palate. However, the oak is resinous and dusty and intrudes on the glorious fruit in the mouth. While there may be great merit to this wine (some may love it), the rusticity is a little overbearing for me, although I do like the distinct style of the wine. 56 dozen. Erin Larkin Published 03 August 2022
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