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