2023 Joshua Cooper Dash Cabernet Sauvignon

WINEMAKER: Joshua Cooper
REGION: Bendigo, VIC
VARIETY: Cabernet Sauvignon
VITICULTURE: Organic/Sustainable

"Planted 1999, Dash Farms sits perched at over 450m asl on the Southern granitic slopes of Mt Alexander (Leanganook) looking back towards Mt Macedon and the Macedon Ranges. Like Ray- Monde, it sits just outside the Macedon Ranges GI. An extremely late ripening site for Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit was harvested in late April. Hand harvested with strict fruit sorting in the vineyard, bunches were then 100% de-stemmed and partially foot crushed before loading into open fermenters where they remained for three weeks. The must was allowed to soak until natural fermentation commenced and then extracted with a combination of pumping over, delestage and pigeage before basket pressing. Elevage took place in a combination of new Stockinger 300l (30%) and seasoned thin staved Bordeaux coopered barriques for 12 months, before four months in stainless steel after assemblage. The mountainside nature of Dash Farm provides incredible freshness to the wine. Deep, inky purple with intense violet, seaweed and cassis, and graphite, sweet herb and spice attest to the cool nature of the site." - Josh Cooper

Bright garnet. This vintage shows incredibly vibrancy, with lavender, violet and creamy cassis fruit filling the nose and a savoury, graphite complexity in the background. Medium bodied, but fully flavoured and packed with fine fruit tannin, with just a seasoning of oak. Again, creamy cassis, red cherry and raspberry flood the mouth, with graphite and subtle crushed ivy lend intrigue, finishing powdery and dry. Decent well and enjoy the youthful vibrancy or cellar into the medium term for additional complexity.

The son of biodynamic power couple Alan & Nelly Cooper of Cobaw Ridge, Joshua Cooper is one of the most exciting young winemakers in Australia. Unbelievable precision and focus. Tiny quantities, high demand, a producer to watch.