Xanadu Stevens Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2015 WINE OF THE YEAR

Very limited in production, this single vineyard range demonstrates our focus on selecting only the very best rows from the very best blocks on the property. What started as a pet project is now in it’s 10th Chardonnay and 9th Cabernet release, offering a unique expression of what this special little vineyard is capable of producing.

The Stevens Road vineyard was first planted in 1987, situated 3km from the Xanadu winery, the Rathbones purchased the vineyard in 2008. With 24 hectares under vine, the block is a gracious host to many varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz, Graciano, Petit Verdot and Muscadelle. The Boodjidup Brook weaves its way through the undulating property which gives rise to multiple aspects throughout the vineyard.

The soils on the Stevens Road vineyard are predominantly sandy loams over granite. These soils are conducive to the well-balanced vines which are in the Boodjidup Brook catchment on Stevens Road.

The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from 21 rows of Houghton clone Cabernet on free draining gravelly-loam soils. The block has an easterly aspect with north-south orientation, vines are cane pruned with natural low-moderate vigour that have tended to settle at yields of 5-6 tonnes per hectare. It’s a block that just always seems to know its own balance.

"Comes from 21 rows (half a hectare) of cabernet sauvignon in Block 3 of the vineyard, which always produces exceptional grapes. A selection within a block within a single vineyard. It is 100% cabernet sauvignon, and spent 16 months in French oak (40% new). The bouquet is of astounding purity and quality, the texture and mouthfeel at one with the bouquet, the flavours managing to take the wine onto an even higher plane. An all-time classic, James Halliday, 99 Points"