Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon
the window of opportunity for cabernet sauvignon grapes to develop their optimum varietal flavour is very fine
Description
Regular vineyard visits and tasting of the grapes is imperative to ensure that the grapes are not allowed to achieve over ripeness as this would diminish the varietal characters and result in undersirable non-descript "jammy" character. The close proximity of McLaren Vale to the Gulf of St Vincent and the resultant cooling afternoon sea breezes facilitate the development of optimum levels of flavour, colour and tannin.
Tasting Notes
Awards & Reviews for recent releases
2008 94 points. - At the bigger end of Michael Fragos’ Cabernet universe, this is powerful, but with the structure and balance to hold it. The palate is richly fruited, swirling with ripe blackcurrant, crunchy red currant and cassis fruit. The tannin structure is firm and fine grained, accented with dark chocolate oak. Tyson Stelzer, WINE 100 – May 2010, 2010
2007 Inky depth of purple red colour to rim. Gorgeously heady nose, combining sweet luscious cassis and plum fruit, leather, and earth, with a touch of meat jus. This voluptuous beauty in the mouth has notes of liquorice and spice combining with taut tannins which rein in the fleshiness and provide lovely structure, with the acid spiking through giving balance. Wonderful intensity on the finish, a wine to watch out for, to cellar for quite some time. International Wine & Spirit Competition - London, 2009
2006 Silver - 2012, International Wine Challenge UK, 2008
2006 Due for release March 2008 2007
2005 Warren Winiarski Trophy - The"Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show" at the IW&SC in London 2007
2005 Gold - Stewed, ripe black fruit and cedarwood notes lead to deep black cassis on the palate with a fresh long finish. A rich wine that's great value for money." Sommelier Wine Awards, 2010
2005 Gold - Class 73, Melbourne 2007 Wine Show, 2007
2005 Gold - Class 53, Royal Queensland Wine Show, 2007
2005 4 Stars - June 2007, Winestate Magazine, 2007
2004 Silver - Class 17, McLaren Vale Wine Show, 2006
2004 Silver - Class 17, McLaren Vale Wine Show, 2006
2004 Blue Gold - Top 100, Sydney Int. Wine Competition, 2007
2004 4.5 Stars - July 2007, A medium bodied, elegantly understated wine in contradiction to many from this region; ripe cassis blackcurrant fruit and fine tannins. Rating 92 James Halliday, 2007
Food Suggestion
Each of our wines has an accompanying recipe by Peter Hogg, Executive Chef of the Chapel Hill Winery Gourmet Retreat.
“Chermoula coated lamb back strap with grilled vegetables and preserved lemon and herb salad” - download the recipe - 62 kb