Halo Range 'The First Cab' 2022
Arising from a tiny sub-block of Houghton clone, the soaring red floral and ripe berry notes are cradled by refined tannins and a mineral core An ode befitting the courageous pioneering spirit behind the Duke’s story. Limited production. 750ml
RED CURRANT • LAVENDER • GRAPHITE
Accolades
95 points, The Real Review
Deep-ish red with a tinge of purple in the meniscus; there is notable oak adding a pecan nut overtone to the elegant tobacco, cedar, kid leather and subtle cassis fruit, the middle is deliciously fruit-sweet before a cleansing, firming, fine-tannin finish that leaves an abiding feeling of harmony. Delicious wine now and appears to have a long and promising future.
94 points, Halliday Wine Companion
Matured in 100% French oak barrels (29% new) and aged for 17 months before bottling; from selected fruit from a single site. A supple and detailed cabernet offering dark cherry, cassis, choc-cherry notes, distinct woody spices, malt powder characters and touches of espresso and undergrowth. Savoury leaning is its motif, with a sinewy tug of graphite-laced tannin chiming in. There's a washiness to textural and flavour elements, though one could say understated in the same breath. Good follow through of fine tannin lingers after each sip. A gentle and yet distinguished wine.
94 points, Wine Pilot
The aromatic combination of bright red berry and oyster shell with a little bay leaf provides such a captivating and inviting opening. This is from a small block of Houghton clone Cabernet which brings so much to the table. Wonderful palate of minerally graphite and bright red berry fruits. A totally seamless integration of medium-bodied fruit nestling with fine tannin and gentle oak creates a smooth mouth feel. Excellent wine.
The Real Review Top 100 Winery
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Halliday Top 5 Star Winery
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Appearance: medium-deep magenta, bright ruby edges
Aroma: red cherry, cranberry, yellow plum, raspberry, savoury umami, cinnamon stick, candied red apple, dried red rose petals, graphite, red licorice
Palate: refined, long, densely powerful, and tightly coiled, bright red currant core, succulent and juicy, cranberry, wild raspberry, refined, crushed rose petal, silky, powdery, chalky tannins, complete with great width and persistence, saltbush, crushed Himalayan salt, poised, focused with great energy and verve
Cool, wet winter with a very high rainfall followed by a warm to hot and dry summer. The vines grew quickly, developing excellent canopies. A delayed bud burst affected flowering and gave lower yields. Good tannin ripeness (physiological ripeness) with deep colours and silky texture. This vintage afforded a long time on the vine to complete tannin development and allow maximum complexity of fruit.
Selectively harvested in early morning in mid-April, the fruit was cool when it arrived at the winery. It was destemmed and berry sorted post destemming, then tipped into an open top fermenter and allowed to cold soak naturally before the ferment was allowed to proceed, followed by gentle hand-plunging daily from 1-3 times. Some post-ferment maceration ensued for complexity and structure to give 21 days on skins; followed by gentle pressing, creating a powerful yet silky wine.
Aged in 100% French oak (29% new) in 225L barriques and 300L hogsheads for 17 months on fine lees. Longer oak aging was sought to build complexity and help integrate the tight-knit oak and grape tannins. Blending occurred with no fining and minimal filtration. Bottled in February 2023, released March 2024.
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