Author: Andrew Graham
Source: ozwinereview.com.au
Review Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Terre á Terre Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc
2014 was a vintage that started cool and humid and ended up warm and mild. The Crayères vineyard is effectively hand-pick only, with the 1.5m row spacing too small for anything but mini-tractors and feet (or maybe a horse). The fruiting wire is 50cm off the ground, which also means it would be a bastard to pick. Bags not.
The fruit, once picked, was transported to the Tiers winery in the Adelaide Hills, fermented in 1-tonne fermenters and spending 24 days on skins. It was then aged for 18 months in 30% new barriques. Numbers: pH 3.58, TA 5.3g/L.
Deep red ruby, the nose shows that welcome hint of Franc herbs and black leaf alongside redcurrant and a little cinnamon. Very Franc! Quite pretty too. Bright and energetic palate has light red fruit, a background splash of vanilla oak and then a warming, spicy finish, the vibrancy so appealing and then filled out with fine, biting tannins. There’s just a little alcohol warmth on the tail, but it’s not enough to derail that flow of spicy, ‘I’ve been to St Emilion and bought the t-shirt’ red and occasionally black fruit.
Nice wine indeed and will fill out further with another few years in bottle. Big fan.
Best drinking: 2018-2026
Rated: 18.5/20, 94/100
Alcohol: 14.3%
RRP: $39
Would I buy it? I’d like a few bottles for sure just to see watch it mature.
