Mount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
170 Cases Produced
A wine that has been described as ‘textbook’, yet in today’s world, the making of this wine is now anything but ‘typical’.
Hand-picked from Stephanie’s low yielding vineyard, the ferment is gently plunged 3-4 times a day. The wine then spends 18 months maturation in French barriques, 35% of which are new. Single vineyard, organically grown, this is a powerful wine from an extremely low yielding vintage.
While this may sound ‘textbook’, in reality hand harvesting cabernet sauvignon has become rare. Machine harvesters are both efficient and less expensive compared to hand harvesting. Organic and biodynamic certification is demanding and an expense.
So why bother?Stephanie has an answer to all this. Machines are not the same as hands. Chemical residues, as safe as they may be, are best avoided. ‘Textbook’ winemaking then becomes very straightforward – when fruit is received undamaged and untainted, winemaking can become an exercise in guidance rather than intervention. Importantly, Stephanie believes that the only way to decide if the effort is worth it is simply to taste!.
Tasting Notes:
Great depth of colour. Cabernet’s distinctive blackcurrant and briar notes on both nose and palate, along with chocolate, black olive and smooth, supple tannins. A medium bodied, very fine, elegant wine that will sail effortlessly through the years to well past 2040.
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Recent reviews
- The Real Review – Wine of the WeekMount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 WINE OF THE WEEK 95 points Stephanie Toole’s cabernets are at the more modern, fresh and elegantly structured end of Clare Valley style. They age beautifully. A bright, fresh style of cabernet with mulberry, blueberry, cedar and wood spice aromas. Fresh and lively in the mouth, medium-bodied, not big but intense and the structure ...
- Max Allen2020 Mount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon Stephanie Toole’s other current release reds are excellent – the 2020 Nero d’Avola is all bright purple fruit and a dusting of sandalwood and cinnamon, the 2019 Shiraz is dense and licoricey, with dark cocoa tannins – but the cabernet is just irresistible: beautiful, pure, concentrated, glossy blackcurrant fruit, carried ...
- Halliday Wine Companion 2023“…a truly beautiful wine…” 2020 Mount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon Matured for 18 months in French oak (35% new). This is beautiful. A medium bodied, super-elegant, superfine cabernet. It remains true to its Clare roots with dark chocolate and cocoa scattered throughout the veritable forest of black and purple berries. The acidity is fresh and juicy and countersunk ...
- Ciao Magazine2020 Mount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon The 2020 red releases from Clare Valley winemaker Stephanie Toole at Mount Horrocks are very much in the zone; the pleasure zone, that is. All the wines are single vineyard and 100% organic. The Nero d’Avola is sometimes my favourite, but this time around it was pipped by this gorgeous, richly ...
- The Real Review2019 Mount Horrocks Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points Opaque core into a deep purple rim. A classic cabernet nose of cassis and tobacco leaf. Vibrant and youthful black fruits on entry; they meld into a black olive, tapenade, savoury line whilst a sandy grip of tannins controls and focuses. Great length and drive to the end. A wonderful ...
