Whilst they may be located miles from anywhere, Rory Clifton-Parks and Franklin Tate have shown themselves to be on the money when producing high quality Margaret River blends.
This 70% / 30% Cabernet Merlot blend is a vibrant ruby red in colour, the nose displaying dark plum and blackcurrant aromas, subtle herbal notes of mint and sweet sage sit comfortably alongside. Juicy dark plum flavours derived from the Merlot component are well balanced against Cabernet blackcurrant characters. Well structured tannins provide good length to the palate, and will help this along nicely in the cellar.
Awards and Accolades
2015 Vintage: 91 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion "Cabernet (56%) and merlot (40%) dominant, with a dash of shiraz and petit verdot, 2% each. Less ambitious perhaps than its upper tier sibling, this is nevertheless a far easier ride across a waft of red and dark fruits, pastille and some strewn herbs led by dried sage. The oak is there, guiding and conferring a tannic authority, without overwhelming the interplay of elements."
2013 Vintage: GOLD Medal - 2014 Rutherglen Wine Awards
From the Winery
The fruit for this wine comes from Northern Margaret River around the Carbunup, Treeton and Wilyabrup sub-regions.
Yeast strain isolated from France which enhances flavour, aroma and complexity. Techniques employed to achieve ideal colour and flavour extraction. Batches of Cabernet were allowed to go through short period of extended maceration, to soften fruit tannins. Fermented in stainless steel with a percentage in oak, of which predominantly French, showing chocolate and cedar characters
Don't Pay: $22.00
WBW Rating: 91/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Margaret River, WA
Winemaker: Franklin Tate
Drink now until: 2022
Alc/Vol: 14.2 %