Jurassic Ridge Cabernet Franc 2008
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A 100% pure varietal Cabernet Franc produced from two top quality clones grown sustainably in our estate vineyard above Church Bay on Waiheke Island. Intense red berry fruit (raspberries and cherries) on the bouquet and palate are mixed with characteristic varietal floral and spicey notes (’violets and lavender’) which linger into a long finish on smooth well structured tannins with dark chocolate nuances. Great by itself or with starters (say olives, foccacia and humus) and a perfect match with lamb, game and spicey Asian dishes.
...a sturdy, dark red wine, densely flavoured, spicy and chocolatey, with a backbone of ripe, firm tannins.”. Rated as 'silver medal standard' and 'excellent quality' Michael Cooper, New Zealand Listener, May 21 2011.
An elegantly expressed Cabernet Franc, displaying red plum and spice characters with hints of vanilla and floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth, showing a juicy mouth feel and supple tannins. A nicely harmonised wine with immediate appeal. At its best: now to 2013. Sam Kim, Wine Orbit , June 2011
Jurassic Ridge turns out a stylish Cabernet franc (2008) – in an easy-drinking, fruit-driven style. Lots of raspberry, violets, lavender and chocolate. Very moreish.' John Hawksby, Canvas, NZ Herald, Sunday May 15 2010
Silver Medal - Bragato Wine Awards, Auckland, August 2011.
and ….our cabernet franc already has an established reputation and sells world wide.......
'Jurassic Ridge.....(has) a Cabernet Franc single varietal that would club any Chinon you have ever tasted into submission.' Robert Ryan, 'The Ultimate Cure for Jetlag', London Sunday Times, 1 November 2009.
'The 2007 (Cabernet Franc) vintage is a buoyantly fruity red with raspberry, plum and spice flavours showing excellent ripeness and complexity. Drink now or cellar.'Rated as 'silver medal standard' and 'excellent quality' , Michael Cooper, Island of Wine, New Zealand Listener, July 2011, 2009
Cellar door price per bottle $40.00. Price per case (12x75cl) $38.00/btl
More Details, Tasting Notes & Technical Data (PDF)
VARIETY
Single vineyard pure 100% Cabernet Franc from grapes grown on estate at Jurassic Ridge home vineyard.
REGION
Church Bay, West end Waiheke Island, Auckland
STYLE
Classical medium-bodied 100% pure Cabernet Franc matured with light French oak and barrel aged
VINTAGE NOTE
An 8-9 point vintage which surpassed 2005 as the best ever on the island. Excellent flowering and fruit set, dry though most of the season apart from a little beneficial rain in early March. Optimal quality fruit at harvest.
VINEYARD
High quality vines (new clones from France) are grafted onto low-vigour phylloxera-resistant rootstock (101-14) and hand-planted with close spacing and low fruiting wires in our North facing, North sloping block approximately 80m above sea level into drained clay soils over deep clay and underlying 155 million year old Jurassic rock. The vines were in their 6th year and cropped at 9t/ha.
VINIFICATION
The fruit was selectively hand-picked in the cool of the early morning, destemmed and lightly crushed within 30 minutes of harvesting and fermented in small batches in 900 and 1200L open-top fermenters with hand plunging and pump-overs, followed by a 12 day maceration before the free-run wine was run to barrel. A small proportion of light press wine was included. 50% new Vosges Foret medium toast French oak. After four rackings the wine was bottled without fining. Released Island of Wine Expo May 2010.
APPEARANCE AND BOUQUET
Crystal clear, deep ruby, with intense varietal aromatics of raspberry and cherry fruit and subtle spice on the nose.
PALATE
Fruity, medium bodied, soft tannins, with red berry fruit, floral character and dark chocolate finish.
CELLARING
Drinking well now or cellar for 3-5 years.
SERVING
Best at 18oC
View the FULL tasting notes and technical details about this wine here (PDF)
