Awards, Ratings & Reviews
99/100 Red Blend of the Yearā Halliday Wine Companion Ā· 2023 Vintage
97/100 ā Huon Hooke, The Real Review Ā· 2023 Vintage
96/100 ā Ray Jordan, Winepilot Ā· 2023 Vintage Ā· Tasted: Apr 2025
āThis is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot planted by Bailey Carrodus way back in 1969. I suspect some pretty good fruit has found its way into this exceptional wine from the challenging vintage. Old vines in difficult times show their worth. Concentrated fruit with medium weight that presents with a stylish grace that is what this wine has been from the start. Has a typical minerally leafy thread with chalky tannins defining the palate length.ā
GOLD ā Yarra Valley Wine Show Ā· 2025
About This Wine
The first plantings into block No. 1 were these Cabernet Sauvignon vines, and the name was born. Malbec was also part of the original 1969 plantings.
Merlot vines were originally interplanted with Cabernet, with subsequent plantings in 1990 along with Petit Verdot.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested and sorted, only the best berries make the cut. Cabernet is crushed for structure, while Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot undergo whole berry fermentation for fragrance and weight.
Mostly fermented in half-tonne fermenters, hand plunged twice daily. Some of the Cabernet ferments in 3,500L oak cask, with up to 8 weeks on skins for complexity. Matured 15 months in French oak barriques, 35% new.
Producer Notes
A melange of summer berry fruits and a comforting rustic iodine feel complement some bay leaf lift. Warming clove spice, a hint of graphite and some oak char bring both flavour and tannin.
Beautiful fruit weight, refreshing acidity and fine tannins form a solid foundation for a long future. Complex and layered, but not intimidating, always exciting to watch evolve.
Specifications
- Vintage: 2023
- Grape Variety: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot
- Region: Yarra Valley / Victoria / Australia
- Alcohol: 13.2%
