Dry Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Mount Barker, Western Australia

Technical Details

• Alcohol: 14.5% Alc/Vol

• Total Acidity: 6.9 g/L

• pH: 3.41

Review

94 Points – Halliday Wine Companion (Published 2 December 2015)

"Stern and noticeably dry, but with ample red and blackcurrant flavour and laces of dusty tannin. This is good now but will be even better with medium-term cellaring. Creamy oak has been artfully applied – little more than a whisper. An excellent example of an old-fashioned claret style."

Tasting Notes

Now beautifully matured, this Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep garnet hue with subtle brick-red edges. The bouquet has evolved from vibrant violets and cassis into a complex array of blackcurrant conserve, dried mulberry, cedar, dark chocolate and fine cigar box notes, underpinned by earthy nuances and savoury bay leaf. The palate is elegant and seamlessly integrated, with silky, resolved tannins supporting layers of dark berry fruit and gentle oak spice. The cool-climate pedigree shines through in its freshness, balance and lingering finish, rewarding careful cellaring with remarkable complexity and poise.

Vineyard

Fruit was sourced from our 49-year-old, 12-hectare dry-grown vineyard in Mount Barker. Our mature vines are not irrigated, a rarity in modern viticulture, naturally producing low yields and small berries with concentrated flavour, colour and tannin.

Grown on ancient gravelly loam soils in the cool-climate Great Southern region, the vines benefit from slow ripening conditions that encourage exceptional flavour development while preserving natural balance. Cane-pruned and yielding around two tonnes per hectare, the vineyard consistently produces fruit of outstanding intensity and character.

Vintage Conditions

A late, wet spring was followed by a relatively dry and warm summer. Healthy vine canopies protected the fruit from harsh conditions, while cool nights promoted gradual ripening and excellent flavour retention. The vintage produced expressive, fruit-driven wines with excellent natural balance and structure.

Winemaking

Mechanically harvested and fermented with extended skin contact to maximise colour and flavour extraction, this Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted to reflect both its variety and the distinctive character of Mount Barker. Matured for a minimum of two years in premium French oak, the wine has developed harmony, depth and complexity while retaining the elegance and structure for which Great Southern Cabernet is renowned. A classic expression of old-vine, cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon with exceptional ageing potential.