2022 Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc

The Deep Woods Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc is a unique wine because the variety is usually blended with other Bordeaux-based grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but Chief Winemaker Julian Langworthy aspired to make a straight Cabernet Franc from the original 1987 Deep Woods plantings. Cabernet Franc is actually the parent grape of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and hails from the Basque region in France, close to the Spanish border. Julian has made this wine in the modern style, with delicacy and upfront fruit in mind, while still retaining the classic flavours the variety is renowned for, such as red plum, bramble and crushed gravel. This interpretation shows how Cabernet Franc is increasingly thriving in the Margaret River, which shares a similar Mediterranean climate to Bordeaux in France.

winemaker's note

“I’ve always wanted to make a single vineyard Cabernet Franc from the original Deep Woods Estate plantings. We hand-picked and hand-sorted a tiny quantity of the best fruit from Block 6 to make our 100% Cab Franc. Made in a vibrant, modern style, this wine is highly perfumed, complex, has a generous palate and fine, velvety tannins.”

Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker

colour

Deep ruby.

aroma

The nose shows great beauty and complexity, displaying damson plum, wild herbs and graphite.

palate

The silken tannins frame a supple, medium bodied palate of effortless length. Redcurrant, black cherry and dry herb flavours are vibrant and juicy. A wine of poise and with all the detail of the vineyard.

cellaring

This wine may be enjoyed on release but will find further complexity three to five years from vintage.

vintage

2022 was a truly exceptional vintage in Margaret River. The season started beautifully with a wet spring and late flowering, followed by a warm and dry season, producing wines of refined flavour, great elegance and real personality. 

winemaking

This Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc captures the beauty of a mature site in the Yallingup Hills in a modern, vibrant style. The fruit for this Cabernet Franc was sourced from original estate vines planted in 1987, these are low yielding vines seated in deep gravel loam over clay. The fruit was hand-picked and sorted, gently macerated for 10 days and matured for 9 months in seasoned French oak.

region

Margaret River

variety

Cabernet Franc 

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.5%
• pH: 3.57
• TA: 5.95 g/L

Chargrilled rump steak with stuffed peppers.