Deep, healthy crimson-purple; the Wendouree blends bring wonderful complexity to the table, but this wine in particular brings purity, its flood of cassis fruit on the bouquet and palate awesomely mouthwatering and drawn out, not trimmed back by the brambly, savoury tannins. If there is better tannin structure in an Australian cabernet, I am yet to see it.
98 points, Wine Companion (March 2014)
The Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is located two hours north of Adelaide in the Mount Lofty ranges. The region was settled by John Horrocks who encouraged his servant James Green to plant the first vines in 1842. Climate in the Clare Valley is continental with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall that necessitates supplementary irrigation. Soils in the valley are predominantly red brown loams over shale, permitting excellent drainage. Many of the best vineyards are located at higher elevations of 400-500m on sites that take advantage of the cool breezes that funnel up the corrugation of hills from the south. The Clare Valley is renowned for its zesty fruit-pure Rieslings particularly from the sub-regions of Polish Hill and Watervale. The region also produces intense age-worthy sturdy reds from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
