Ponting

Close of Play Cabernet Sauvignon

• 

  Vintage 2019
  92 points The Wine Front

New release of the Close of Play cabernet, with Ricky Ponting and family building momentum with this wine project. Ben Riggs twiddles the volume, bass and treble in the winery, Ricky and wife Rianna do tastings alongside and work out what’s what for them. Their involvement grows with time. This wine reminds me of Ricky’s 200-plus score in the Caribbean versus the West Indies in 2003, precise, neat and tidy, not a hair out of place, . It’s classic stuff from Langhorne Creek. Firm, medium weight red of dark, plummy fruit, salt bush characters, a touch of eucalyptus and plenty of ferrous, saline mineral things going on. It drinks like a BBQ red with quite a bit more grace and elegance, everything seamlessly woven together, the wine fresh, long and shaped with sleek tannin. This does a good job of pitching at more refined, restrained cabernets.

• 

  Vintage 2019
  91 points

There is a vibrant colour here and for me, while the whites are certainly enjoyable, Ben Riggs has excelled with these reds. There are spices and lovely lifted aromas of cloves, black cherries and cassis. There is plenty of grip too and it contributes to the impressive structure in a powerful, rich style, with attractive ripe fruit. There is also some tobacco leaf and cigar box on the finish which, with good acidity, excellent length and its youthful style, points to an exciting future.