Description
Ashbrook Estate is one of the oldest established wineries in the Margaret River region located in the heart of Wilyabrup. Truly family owned and operated since 1975, all wines are handpicked and crafted from only Estate grown fruit. All processing, winemaking, bottling and packaging are done on site using the Estate’s own private facilities. 2017 sees Ashbrook Estate complete its 39th Vintage, one of only 5 Margaret River wineries to do so! James Halliday says: “This estate is one of the quietest and highest achievers in Australia, maintaining excellent viticulture and fastidious winemaking.”
Notes from the winemaker about this vintage: “Our Reserve Cabernet fruit is hand-harvested over several days in the cool of dawn from mature, dry grown, Wilyabrup grapevines (planted 1976). Destemmed berries are cold soaked before temperature-controlled fermentation in 4 tonne open vats, plunged gently many times a day. Post-fermentation the wine is matured in 100% premium French oak barriques for 22 months before blending. The Reserve Cabernet is crafted from barrels (35% new) exhibiting exceptional mature Wilyabrup Cabernet characters then bottled and aged in our underground cellar for a minimum of two years before release.”
“The “Old Cab” Houghton clone cuttings were collected from the Agricultural Department ‘Source Block’ in the Swan Valley and planted in 1976. Due to its ultimate suitability to the region and increased demand, the “Young Cab” was planted in 1998 from the original vines on the Estate. The “Old Cab” was originally all VSP grown but converted to cane pruned, with +90% Lyre trellis in 1998 with immediate and brilliant results. Coupled with the application of composted mulch, for the past 8 years, the vineyard shows remarkable health and balance producing super premium fruit year in year out.”
“The 2017 growing season at Ashbrook was typified by warm sunny days and cool nights. A hail event in early Spring reduced the volume of the early varietals like Chardonnay but intensified characteristics. Once again disease pressure was minimal due to Ashbrook’s predominantly lyre trellis system. A bumper and lengthy Marri blossom meant silver-eye bird damage was negligible for the earlier varietals however all nets were unrolled for the later varietals as it unfortunately did not carry through. All said and done the white varieties were harvested at optimum flavour ripeness. Yields were back to our traditional volumes but most importantly the quality was impeccable. The 2017 wines will have lower alcohol levels due to the lack of any heat waves before or during vintage so the result is wines with an elegance and fullness, magnificent!”
95 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review “Vibrant ruby red in the glass. Cassis, raspberry, and bay leaf aromas. Powerful and dense cassis fruit, layers of tobacco leaf and cigar box complexities bring contrast and character to the palate whilst firm, ripe tannins drive and control with precision. The seamless nature of the flow is a factor of bottle ageing, but all the components still look very youthful and this wine will age very well for many years to come.”
95 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “.. this is very good. Plenty of fresh mulberries and fruit compote woven throughout an ostensibly savoury wine, with wafts of tobacco, warming spices and warm earth. Fuller bodied with shapely tannins and a little drying on the finish, yet there’s texture and evenness throughout.”
RRP $63 Our Special Price $51.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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