REVIEW

Very dark, deep, near impenetrable black-red colour with garnet hues on the rim. This has a full and well-concentrated nose of ripe, savoury, blackberry and redcurrant fruit harmoniously entwined with aromas of fruit-cake, dried herbs, earth and cedary elements. The fruit has fragrance, freshness and intensity. Medium-full bodied, the palate is rich and sweet with well-concentrated flavours of ripe, dark-red berry fruit with notes of plums, fruit-cake, herbs, earth and cedar. The mouthfeel is juicy and the fruit vibrancy enhanced by lacy acidity. The flavours are underlined by fine-grained, supple tannin extraction, and the palate is composed and balanced. The fruit and structure carry the wine to a very long, lingering finish. This is a well-concentrated, vibrantly sweet-fruited Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend with dark-red berry and plum fruit with savoury fruit-cake earth and cedar complexities on a well-balanced, fine-structured palate. Match with roasted lamb, beef and venison dishes over the next 6-8+ years. A blend of 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot from the ‘Gabion’ vineyard, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged a year in one-third new French oak. The ‘Block’ name has yet to be added to the label. 18.5/20 Apr 2017 RRP $32.99