Wayfinder Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 x 12

Wayfinder Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 x 12Saturated herbal, berry fruitquite discrete on the attack, but gains in depth, intensity and vigourmore about purity and elegance than plushness. Snug tannins, fine and serious. Our 2021 vintage was produced from a single, low yielding block of Houghton clone Cabernet, planted in 1998. The grapes were harvested by hand and sorted into a stainless steel tank for fermentation. The must underwent a 3 day cold soak to blend intense colour and supple

Saturated herbal, berry fruit…quite discrete on the attack, but gains in depth, intensity and vigour…more about purity and elegance than plushness. Snug tannins, fine and serious.

Our 2021 vintage was produced from a single, low-yielding block of Houghton clone Cabernet, planted in 1998.

The grapes were harvested by hand and sorted into a stainless-steel tank for fermentation. The must underwent a 3-day cold soak to blend intense colour and supple tannin from the skins, and then gently warmed prior to inoculation. The must was pumped over up to 3 times/day during peak fermentation, with a single rack and return to break up the cap and promote extraction. After 19 days on skins, the free-run was gravity-drained to tank, and barrelled down to a mix of 50% new French oak (primarily Boutes and Taransaud).

Barrels were inoculated for malolactic fermentation and kept warm until dry. After 10 months’ maturation in oak, the barrels were racked to tank and polish-filtered prior to bottling.

It's seductively inviting on the nose with cassis, violet, bouquet garni and toasted almond characters. The palate offers ripe fruit intensity with beautifully flowing mouthfeel, well supported by layers of grainy tannins, finishing with a great line and length. Classically styled and highly appealing. At its best: now to 2036. - Sam Kim, 94 points