Description
Crawford River wines from Henty in South Western Victoria are crafted exclusively from hand-picked and selected fruit grown at their estate vineyard, whereupon they are vinified and bottled on site. The fruit is brought to the winery in small parcels, where meticulous attention is paid to detail. Patience and time are of the essence in their winery.
Winemaker Belinda Thompson has been honing her craft with Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2021 is excellent and very limited.
About this wine from the winery: “We have three Cabernet Sauvignon blocks on our site, planted in 1976, 1977 & 2000, respectively. The 1976 block lies on the gravelly ridge and is WNW facing. This hard piece of soil provides structural integrity and tannin density to our Cabernet wines. The flavour profile this brings to our wine is unmistakably allspice and liquorice, with chewy, yet fine tannins. The 1977 block faces West and is duplex sandy loam at one end of the block, moving to clay loam at the other, all over limestone base. This block has the prettiest blue fruit of all the Cabernet blocks and presents silky, fine tannins. It is typically the last block we harvest, and is usually the block which spends considerable time on skins post ferment to best illustrate the fine tannins it yields. The newest block was planted in 2000, has a WNW aspect and a number of soil seams that run through it. Predominantly Sandy loam, there are sections of ironstone gravel and clay loam. The site yields vibrant, generous fruit characters, with supple tannins. The fruit for this wine is predominantly BDX 125 clone.
“A reasonably mild, dry winter was followed by a wet Spring, which was terrific for pruning and initial seasonal growth. Unfortunately, we suffered a late frost, causing damage to varying degrees across the Riesling, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. The season was quite wet, though rain typically fell in short bursts, making disease control relatively easy and effective. Flowering weather was cool to mild which, on top of the frost, further affected potential yield. On the plus side, the resulting fruit was a picture of health throughout the season, as was the canopy. Thankfully, due to the relatively warm, dry end of the season, fruit ripened beautifully, with quality excellent across all varieties.
“Handpicked and destemmed only. Each parcel was fermented in open vessels and hand plunged throughout a moderate fermentation. A small portion of the fruit was left on skins after completion of fermentation for 12 weeks, in order to lengthen and complex tannins and flavours. After pressing, all wines were settled for around 4 weeks in tank prior to barrelling down. The wine then spent 22 months in French Oak prior to blending and bottling.
“Perfumed blue fruit, with dark cassis edges. A wonderfully soft, dense, medium frame is supported by subtle spice, with hints of vanilla, blood plum and mulberry. Everything in balance and moderation here. Ferrous elements shine through the front and mid palate, aiding texture, density and complexity. Natural acidity aids persistence and overall balance. An integrated, delicious drink of medium weight for drinking now and well into the future. “
95 points, Philip Rich, Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion “A medium bright cherry red. A wine that often goes under the radar, this smells Bordeaux-like with its bouquet of dark cherries, mulberry, iodine and cedar. Medium bodied, this elegant, persistent, structured and long wine will provide a lot of enjoyment over the next five to 10 years, at a minimum.”
93 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review “Medium ruby hue. Blackberry, tea and beef stock aromas. Medium to full bodied with ripe black fruits, black olive tapenade and meaty undertones. Everything is well integrated, tannins working in the background as the flavour profile transitions seamlessly into a long, focused finish. A claret style that appeals for its balance and deft touch”
RRP $79 Our Special Price $68.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine – VERY LIMITED
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.