instance, the roasted-chestnut-barrel maturation characters in the wines of Soul Growers were consistent across all entries and added complexity and stature. The high alcohol and ripe expressions of Greenock Creek Wines highlighted a style consistent to its audience. The fragrant blackberry-pastille sage-like aromatics, al dente structure and integrated mocha oak of Henschke’s Eden Valley wines emphasise seasonal character of vineyards and house style. Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted in the Barossa Valley in the 1880s and possibly before; Penfolds Block 42 (1888) is the oldest-surviving vineyard. The variety is notoriously inconsistent, but in many years it can really show its class – 2018 may well be such a year. John Duval’s Integro Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz and Paul Mara Apotogi Cabernet Sauvignon are bloody good examples of high-fidelity cabernet sauvignon sourcing and wine making. The fruit definition, density and oak maturation are beautifully aligned.
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T he V intage J ournal – Regional Focus
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