‘Rising Ground’ Cabernet Franc 2025

‘Rising Ground’ Cabernet Franc 2025 ($30) – Always fascinating to see solo Cabernet Franc. So often the bridesmaid, every now and again it pops up and proves it deserves centre stage. For me, this is one of those wines. From the team’s Polish Hill Vineyard in the Clare Valley, the blocks providing the fruit are some of their most elevated, hence the name. The grapes underwent a wild fermentation before eight months in older French barriques for maturation. The team suggest drinking this within five years, and it will certainly offer enormous pleasure during that period, but I think they're selling themselves short. I think well cellared bottles will go twice as long and really impress down the track. 

Quite a vibrant dark purple hue here. On the nose we have aromas of dried herbs, tobacco leaves, cherries, wild raspberries and aniseed. Deceptively abundant tannins, if a touch grainy. The wine has balance and real length and is well structured throughout. A vibrant style, this is a really good Cabernet Franc and, well cellared, should provide pleasure for a decade. Love it. Bridesmaid, no longer (at least here). 93.