Merite

Single Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet

• 

  Vintage 2016
  93 points

Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon grown on 16-year-old vines. Single vineyard but it’s 40 hectares in size, which is significant. Matured in French and Hungarian oak. I guess it’s just a matter of getting balance right. So many wines don’t; this wine does. The fruit has been beautifully ripened and has the sweetness of summer tucked neatly inside, and yet it remains dusty and varietal, and the canopy too can be tasted in its leafy tobacco-like notes. It doesn’t just tasted of grapes, it’s reminiscent of a vineyard. Tannin is a fine mesh and its length is sound. It’s pretty much guaranteed that this Cabernet will mature charmingly.

• 

  Vintage 2016
  93 points

Crushed, destemmed, cultured yeast, matured post fermentation in French oak (40% new). Assembled for blending trials Nov '17; and 5% Merlot Q45 included in the final blend. From the 40ha vineyard better known for its plantings of the much-anticipated new Merlot clones. The wine speaks persuasively with its attention to detail. It is medium-bodied, the bouquet and palate both impeccably structured and balanced, the oak well handled.