Clarendon || McLaren Vale
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
13% Alc
A very late harvest.Cool and cloudy. Winter rainfall was good, and the wet conditions continued into Spring. Summer was mild without any extended heatwave periods. Cloudy weather returned during the ripening period. A nervous period of waiting ensued as grape phenolic ripening was particularly slow. 2023 was not a vintage in which to overcrop or to panic and pick too early. Patience was the name of the game. The resulting wines are a little lower in alcohol, higher in fresh acidity and show wonderful fragrance.
Three parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon hand harvested 29th March; 4th & 13 th April 2023. Two parcels of Cabernet Franc harvested 29th March 2023. Hand picked, destemmed and machine sorted to remove any shrivelled and aborted green berries (a small portion of fruit from one parcel was crushed). Held cold for 32 hours prior to the beginning of natural fermentation (no yeast added). Gentle pump overs with the aim of minimising over extraction.
95 Marcus Ellis
97 James Halliday
Bekkers McLaren Vale Clarendon Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Halliday Wine Companion 5 Red Star
"In McLaren Vale, South Australia, the Bekkers story is born of a rare connection with nature and a world of experience. We have been fortunate to encounter some of the best the wine world has to offer, but nothing has diminished our conviction that McLaren Vale can deliver world class wines. We aim to be an emblem for fine wine in our region. Our wines are gently crafted in tiny quantities, with an accent on finesse and fine texture. We strive to inspire confidence and push the limits of what’s possible for McLaren Vale and Australian wine. Our fine wines are loved by devotees world-wide with whom we have formed strong relationships. They share an appreciation for craftsmanship infused with the efforts and soul of the maker. As small family winemaker, we aspire to stand proud amid the world’s most coveted wines and their craftsmen.
This is a story of special wine……from the soil to the soul."