2019 Crawford River Cabernets

WINEMAKER: Belinda Thomson
REGION: Henty, VIC
VARIETAL: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
VITICULTURE: Organic

75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc. Destemmed only. 5-7 days cold soak on skins prior to natural fermentation in open fermenters. Hand plunged during moderate temperature fermentation. Pressed when dry and settled in tank for around 4 weeks before barrelling down. 12 months in 100% French Oak, <10% new. No acid addition. Not cold stabilised. Not fined. Bottled October 2019.

Beautiful lifted, spiced blue fruits and baked red fruit are the primary forces here. Edges of liquorice and spice couple with dried herbs, bay and hints of blackberry leaf to create a lovely layered, complex palate. The tannins are soft and fine and interlaced throughout the long palate. This wine was matured in mostly old French oak creating a very fragrant, delicious wine from the fine flavoured grapes of the 2019 season.

Crawford River is an iconic family producer in the cool climate of Henty in Victoria's south-west. The Thomson family have been producing wine from their estate since 1985, making the move to organics in 2008. The vineyard is managed by hand without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides, using organic composts and grazing sheep.