Dalwhinnie Moonambel Cabernet 2012

Dalwhinnie is located near the small village of Moonambel in the heart of the Pyrenees region of western Victoria, Australia and is a super-premium producer of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

At 595 meters above sea level, Dalwhinnie is the highest and most remote of the Pyrenees district vineyards. Surrounded and sheltered by the highest range, this unique bowl of vines is located in a naturally undulating trough which falls away from the hills, forming an Amphitheatre nestled into the ranges. Dalwhinnie has been growing grapes for nearly 50 years and is now a fully mature vineyard, producing ultra-premium wines that are distinctive, elegant and reflect the benefit of a dry-grown vineyard.

The fruit for this wine was picked from the original contour and front gate vineyards on the Dalwhinnie estate, where fruit then fermented for 14 days in open top fermenters. Once approaching dryness the wine was pressed directly to French oak barriques for a 20 month maturation. Careful barrel selection was carried out to blend this wine before bottling.

"Clear, deep crimson-purple; just as you would expect from the region, fully mature vines, the winemaker and the judicious use of French oak. The flavours are deep and deceptively powerful, tannins plentiful, but submerged in the fruit, the overall balance and length faultless".

96 points - James Halliday. Australian Wine Companion.