Quintessential Margaret River Cabernet, with perfumed black fruit aromas and a generous, velvety palate packed with irresistible dark forest fruit and chocolate characters.
Cabernet Sauvignon and a little portion of Petit Verdot from the Timber Creek Vineyard in Wilyabrup, which make up 50% of the blend along with 45% of fruit from the dry grown Victory Point vineyard, in the Treeton subregion. The remaining 5% is Malbec from the estate Stevens Road vineyard in the Wallcliffe subregion. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the renowned Houghton clone which provides a balance of fruit-driven flavours, impeccable structure and fine tannins. The deep and ancient granite soils have an abundance of ironstone gravel. These free-draining soils have low water and nutrient holding capacities, providing the optimum growing conditions to achieve balance between foliage and fruit, and deliver superb aroma and flavour intensity. The Indian and Southern Oceans meet here, engulfing the vineyards with fresh, sea breezes, promoting natural balance. The vineyard is managed sustainably with cover crops, biodiversity promotion and weed management from sheep grazing.
The grapes were crushed and destemmed before mostly small batch fermentation took place at 24 to 26 °C in static and open fermenters, lasting seven to eight days. The cap was submerged using pumping over and regular hand plunging. Post fermentation, the Timber Creek Cabernet fruit (45%) underwent extended skin maceration, before being gently pressed. Malolactic conversion took place in a combination of tank and barrel. The wine was matured for 14 months in French oak (40% new).
