Description
10th generation winemaker and native of Bordeaux, Dominique Portet is regarded as a pioneer of the renaissance of the Victorian Wine industry since 1976 when he was responsible for the renowned wines of Taltarni and Clover Hill. Establishing his own label in 2000 Dominique Portet with winemaker son Ben are now 10th generation winemakers going back to the 18th century. They now craft fine cool-climate wines in the Yarra Valley and this medium bodied Cabernet has the goods.
Notes from the winemaker: “Grapes come from a range of warmer vineyards in the northern and southern end of the Yarra Valley. Soils are rocky and hungry, with a clay base and lots of broken sandstone. These north-facing sites are excellent for Cabernet that has clear, juicy, concentrated fruit with soft, silky tannins.
The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. We picked and sorted all varieties by hand. We de-stemmed the grapes and gently crushed them before fermenting them at relatively cool temperatures to accentuate the beautiful aromatics of the Cabernet. The wine stayed on skins for two weeks, during which time colour and tannins were gently extracted. We then gave the wine 10 months to mature in French oak barrels, 30% of which were new.” 13% alc.
95 points and Top 100 Wines of 2020 by James Halliday “Quite what a classy Yarra Valley cabernet-dominant blend is doing at this price is beyond me. It is elegant, medium bodied and finely structured, the suite of red/blackcurrant fruits given 12 months in French oak (20% new).”
93 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “So often excellent value. Medium-bodied, nutty with a slight liquorice edge, blackcurrant and redcurrant, supple tannin, maybe even ripe raspberry. Lovely balance and juiciness to it, even-tempered and excellent to drink. Almost like a Cabernet Franc in its lightness and hedgerow perfumed appeal. Hard not to think this is not only excellent drinking, but something of a bargain too.”
Our Special Price only $24.99 – Last of this very fine vintage!
(New Vintage also available – Click here)
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