2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mother's Ruin

'An ode to the luncheon claret'. Joch’s vineyard is in the Willunga foothills in the south of the McLaren Vale – 130 m above sea level on deep alluvial stony clay loam. Fermented at 20- 25 °C for 10 days on skins. Transferred to 10% new French oak hogsheads, and the balance to 3- and 4-year-old French oak hogsheads for malo and to mature sur lie for 15 months. Bottled in June 2015. Mid to deep cherry red. So classically Cab on the nose that it makes me smile. Though I might have thought there was some Cab Franc in here, or at least a component from the Loire. Blackcurrant leaf, capsicum but not in the least unripe, just a very specific style of Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are very fine and the whole thing is just so wonderfully elegant. Fresh, long and subtle. As they say, a luncheon claret but Ozzie style, ie no meanness or greenness here. (JH)