2021 Riley Harrison “Vento do Mar” Cabernet Franc, McLaren Vale

This delicious Cabernet Franc from South Australia is from Kaurna Country, Blewitt Springs and McLaren Vale. This is not your typical South Australian wine. Why? Because this is a Cabernet Franc. This varietal mostly needs cooler climates, as its skins aren’t as thick as for example Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. So ripeness happens much faster. But indeed, this is a sweet spot for it. This is a 50 years old vineyard with deep sandy soils. 10% carbonic maceration allow for some freshness in the wine and 90% whole berry ferment. Why do we like it? Vento do Mar, means ‘wind from the ocean’ in Portuguese. This is a wine made with minimal intervention winemaking, which for Harrison means that the attention to detail is far more important in the winery. He has worked in some great wineries around, but one that we know well and love is the Herdade do Esporao in the South of Portugal, Alentejo… where another famous Australian spent over 25 years, David Baverstock. We love this wine… for its alive pure deliciousness… violets, ripe red cherry and plum along with caraway seed and round, juicy tannins.   Grape            Cabernet Franc Country        Australia                                              Region          McLaren Valle        Vintage         2021