2016 Terre a Terre Crayeres Reserve

In recent years when someone asks about an emerging classic of Australian wine i seem to always go back to the Crayeres Vineyard. There is uncompromising care and thought in viticulture and winemaking that produces some of the most compelling wines coming out of South Australia.

The Crayeres Reserve is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Shiraz (16%), and Cabernet Franc (16%). It was aged in a large proportion of new French Oak (84 %) for 11 moths and then spent a further 17 months in a 5 year old oak foudre before being bottled in December 2018, and aged in bottle for a further 18 months prior to release.

The fruit has soaked up the new oak with blackberry and earth given a spiced, vanillin lift on the nose. The palate has an elegance to its medium bodied frame with a tannin and acid that flows from start to finish that gives texture and dimension to fruit and oak influence. The mid palate takes on a more earthen and savoury note that combines with generous spice and undergrowth with a bitter dark cherry like impact. The length is incredible, and the wine is bound to evolve and grow over the coming decade.

Nothing short of an icon.