Andrew Graham: “this is classy wine”

Great to see genuine Cabernet Franc taken seriously. From the close planted (4,444 vines/hectare) Crayères Vineyard in Wrattonbully, with this block grafted onto rootstocks in 2008. 75% of the blend was fermented wild with 20% whole bunches, matured in old oak. The other 25% was in new oak. Both lots matured for 22 months in barrel. Interesting again to see the numbers: pH 3.46. TA 5.7g/L. It’s a plush and ripe wine this vintage, with a Christmas cake intensity of heady flavour and plum fruit aplenty. It’s still medium bodied and has great tannins too, with the only question mark about whether it’s just too ripe, the varietal stamp lost in the alcohol. Regardless, this is classy wine that perhaps would be even better if it was less warm, but the genuine article all the same. Best drinking: This will live for twenty years if you let it. Will be more composed in 3-5 years.