about this product

The Primo Estate Joseph Moda Cabernet Sauvignon, first produced in 1987, was inspired by the Amarone wines of Valpolicella in Northern Italy. The wine is made from partially dried fruit, left out in the shade for two weeks, post-harvest. Typically the sugar levels rise from around 13 to 15 Baume. Moda is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from two vineyards in McLaren Vale and Clarendon. The wine is fermented in traditional open fermenters and then aged in 50% new French and American barriques for 20 months before bottling. This is a voluptuous “Iron fist in a velvet glove” style, but after several years it reveals “a natural Australian richness, cigar-box characters and earthy antique shop complexity.”

Region McLaren Vale

The McLaren Vale wine region is located between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf of St Vincent just South of Adelaide in South Australia. Historically it was John Reynell who established Chateau Reynella in 1838, and Thomas Hardy who purchased the historic Tintara in 1876, that kick started the development of the McLaren Vale wine industry. The climate is generally considered warm, although different aspects, altitude and the effect of the cooling ocean breezes moderate the climate within the different sub-regions of the Vale. A large number of soil types are present, although red-brown loams dominate. The biggest viticultural challenge is the potential for drought and the overall lack of water. Full bodied, robust and plush reds typify the McLaren Vale style. Plantings are dominated by Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, with smaller plantings of whites including Semillon, and Chardonnay. More recent plantings of Mediterranean varieties particularly suited to the climate, including Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Savagnin and Fiano have also been very successful.