Punt Road
It's a single-block wine from Block 3 of Punt Road’s Napoleone Vineyard, planted in 1987. Tim Shand reckons the secret here is the rather saucy-sounding aqueous maceration - doing the grunt work in pumpovers and plunges during cold soak and at the start of fermentation. Post ferment, the wine is pressed earlier than Punt Road's neighbours, as Tim doesn’t subscribe to the Bordeaux theory of tannin integration on skins for Yarra cab. Matured in 25% new oak.
It’s a lovely vibrant ruby colour and pretty serious on the nose - everything you’d hope for: cigar box, redcurrant, blackcurrant and, as it wakes in the glass, some pretty floral notes. Same on the palate, where it grows and spreads really nicely. Medium-bodied, attractive fruit with red-spectrum notes quite prominent. Plenty of tannins but almost a fluffy element to them. Good length, with lovely fruit and perfume.
May, 2017
The Wine Front
94 points
It’s rich and supple, with a mass of fine melting tannin, and in with that, a vibrancy and punch of classic Yarra Valley Cabernet. I’m thinking redcurrant and blackcurrant, rosy perfume, a bit of the old cigar box, unobtrusive but cool acidity, and a densely packed finish of very fine length. It’s so good to drink now, you might well ignore its cellaring potential. Wonderful.
Halliday magazine
The wonderful world of Yarra Valley Cabernet. There aren't a lot of great examples around, but the ones that routinely deliver tend to be exxy, and rightly so. Here though we have the joy of this region-variety match at a no-fuss price. It showcases long lines of elegant, moreish flavour, the berries glistening with life and lift as they pass through your mouth.
October, 2017
Gourmet Traveller WINE
Yarra Valley Cabernet may not be as famous as Coonawarra or Margaret River, but it is a glory to behold – think Mount Mary, Yeringberg and Yarra Yering. The colour is deep and bright, the bouquet laden with charming cassis aromas, laced with cedar. In the mouth it has intensity combined with elegance, freshness and zip. The tannins are fine and measured. I can imagine this ageing beautifully and rewarding the patient. The price is a gift for a wine of this class.
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