REDBANK 1970'S VINES CABERNET SAUVIGNON

The wine world is a far more interesting, intriguing and diverse place with Josh Cooper in it plying his trade. Here, he sources fruit of a well-known vineyard planted in the '70s by Neill Robb, who still tends it. Skilfully, Josh teases the dark fruit into a savoury, complex wine that’s utterly delicious. Mid-weighted, fine tannins and lots of them, rolling smoothly across the palate. A striking wine. Rating: 95 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2024)

The 2022 Redbank Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon continues the theme of dark, spicy, rocky, mineral-shaped Cabernets from the 2022 release, and this takes the full length of the palate for all the flavors and textures to be fully revealed. There is crushed rocks and loose-leaf black tea, dried blackberries, black peppercorns and salted licorice. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam and wax. Drinking range: 2024 - 2037 Rating: 92 Erin Larkin, www.RobertParker.com (Jul 2024)

Another vineyard which needs no introduction to lovers of classic Victorian wines. Still farmed and managed by founder Neill Robb, much like Balgownie it has been a bastion of quality since establishment. The wines also enjoy a similar track record of cellaring.

The vineyard has been dry grown since planting, with vine roots now stretching deep into the hillside soil - largely composed of shale and mudstone, with a iron rich surface layer of ochre red loam, essential for its water holding capacity.

Once hand harvested the fruit was entirely de-stemmed, then partially foot crushed before transfer to open fermenters where it remained for three weeks. The must was allowed to soak until natural fermentation commenced and was then extracted with a combination pumping over, delestage and pigeage before basket pressing.

Elevage took place in a combination of new Stockinger 300l (30%), Spanish stoneware jars and seasoned thin staved Bordeaux coopered barriques for 12 months, before four months in stainless steel after assemblage. The only addition to the wine is a small dose of sulphur.

Impenetrable garnet. Subtle and restrained, though incredibly distinctive. Redbank slowly reveals layer after layer - cassis, new leather, warm terracotta, fig and blood plum. The most elegant of Black Holes of aroma and flavour. Fine and layered tannin coats the mouth, carrying inky, ferrous complexity and blood plum fruit.

Redbank eloquently evokes the iron rich red loams, shale and wild scrub of this part of the Pyrenees.

Please decant well prior to drinking, or cellar for as long as you like.