Dark red with crimson hues, lifted cassis, blackcurrant leaf and cedar. Ripe black fruits accompanied by a refreshing bright palate with classic Heathcote eucalypt-mint characters. Bold generous mid-palate displaying fruit intensity and ripe textured tannins. Exceptional concentration and purity combined with restrained structure and balance. This is a wine that can be enjoyed in its youth, but will also equally reward those with the patience to cellar for a further 6 – 10 years.

The 2019 vintage in Heathcote was an exceptional year for reds. A dry winter led into an early spring with encouraging rainfall over the period up until the new year. January and February were hot and dry and warmer than average. The vintage was fast paced with an extended hot spell during late February and March. Providing ideal ripening conditions and producing fruit exhibiting true varietal expression.

Planted on the prized ancient red Cambrian soils of Heathcote, viticultural practices employed at Colbinabbin Estate tend to produce very low vineyard yields. The 2019 season was no exception coming in at under 2 tonnes to the acre. Ripening was measured and unhurried with flavours and colour accumulating at a steady controlled pace and harvest taking place on 20th March.

Upon arrival at the winery the grapes were destemmed, crushed and fermented on skins in traditional open top fermenters. Hand plunged twice a day for a period of 14 days before being pressed and transferred into French Oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. A combination of medium toast tight grained Demptos & Taransaud barriques (225 L) for a maturation period of 18 months.