Rising Cabernet Franc 2024

Aromas of violets and a red berry compote, underscored by wild strawberries, raspberry, and a robust savoury character of bramble and blue stones. The palate unfolds with soft plumpness, revealing notes of blueberries and the distinctive bell-pepper trait associated with Cabernet, while chalky tannins lead to a full, stony finish. Harvested from 40-year-old, ungrafted vines at the Long Gully Vineyard in Healesville and crafted with minimal intervention, this Cab Franc epitomises wild, savoury elegance, bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its unique character.

Critics thoughts -  Made in a Loire Valley style, giving aromas of dark cherries, plums, fresh herbs, white pepper and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, carrying flavors of game meat, red currants, bitter chocolate and blackberry bush. A meaty, focused, structured and well-balanced wine. Drink or hold. Screw cap.  93 points James Suckling

Not much Cabernet Franc is grown in Australia, so it’s always good to see a varietal version on the shelves, rather than just blended away. Like the Gamay and Pinot, it opens with a burst of ripe fruit but has a much different, more savoury, flavour profile: boysenberry, red cherry, black pepper, green capsicum. The tannins are drying and a bit grippy, and while the palate turns very savoury after a bit of air, the fruit returns with gusto on the second night, bringing everything together nicely and making for a very satisfying wine.  93 Points Brendan Blanc Wine Pilot

A nice slurp to this wine. Blood stained purple fruits and a twist of alpine herb and Aussie bush. Spot on. It’s loose and pretty, sumptuous and soft, a cool finish but long and grainy with the right kind of haze to tannin. Such pleasantness here, and a good deal of varietal character. Lovely stuff.  92 points Mike Bennie The Wine Front