This classic Margaret River Cabernet comes from hand-harvested parcels of fruit from three exceptional vineyard blocks. The core components were the Estate Old Block (planted in 1978) and Block 12 from the North vineyard (planted in 1995). A small parcel of 125 clone from Weightmans Block 5, an exceptionally gravelly site, was also added to the blend.
The fruit (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Merlot) was hand harvested and destemmed, retaining as many whole berries as possible, then fermented in open fermenters with regular, gentle pump-overs or plunging. Fermentations were cool (kept below 25 degrees) and lasted 15 days. The parcels matured separately for 16 months in tight-grained French oak before blending.