85/8/5/2% cabernet sauvignon (Houghton clone)/malbec/petit verdot/cabernet franc. Matured for 18 months in French oak. The mention of Houghton clone in Wilyabrup is important, for the particular way that it expresses itself: supple, succulent, red fruited and powerful; it imbues the wines with grace and ease. So too, this release. This has all these attributes, layers of pomegranate, raspberry, red licorice, saltbush, cassis and peppercorn. A beautiful wine, with a proven track record for graceful ageing. This vintage will be no exception.
Destemmed into closed-top fermenters, then split into three. One batch is pressed off skins early to complete fermentation in oak, another pressed off just after fermentation, the third left on skins for 40 days post-ferment. The bouquet is perfumed with red flowers and cassis, the finish long and elegant.