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Produced in the Clare Valley region located along South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges about 65 miles north of Adelaide. The Cabernet from Clare Valley—one of Australia's oldest winemaking regions—is highly regarded around the world. Third-generation family winery Wakefield, founded in 1969 by Bill Taylor, only releases their flagship St. Andrews wines from the best blocks on the estate and crafted only in the best vintages.
In 1969, after a considerable search, the Taylor family found a promising 178-hectare site by the Wakefield River in the Clare Valley. They were certain the soil – Terra Rossa (red loam over limestone) – would prove conducive to crafting wines of the highest quality. The contrast of warm days and cool nights in the Clare Valley would be equally beneficial – helping the grapes ripen in the day and allowing the vines to rest at night.
Wakefield’s goal is to be Australia’s top wine company, applying best practice principles in environmental management to enhance sustainable business activities and products. Favoring use of the most innovative techniques available, the winery strives to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and packaging.
The St. Andrews range of wines is named after a historic property in the Clare Valley, first established in 1892 by Scottish immigrants. For years, St. Andrews was one of the leading producers in the area but ceased operating in the 1930s. Recognizing the potential of this land, which lay adjacent Wakefield’s first vineyards, founder Bill Taylor purchased the property in 1995 and replanted, releasing the first vintage in 1999. These critically acclaimed wines are only made in exceptional vintages and from top estate parcels.
Aging: 18 months in French Oak (40% new)
Tasting Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. At release, the wine is a deep, dark garnet color with a subtle purple hue to the edge. The wine has an enticing, lifted bouquet of violets, blackcurrants, blackberry, and a hint of chocolate. The overall aroma is one of understated richness and elegance. On the palate, it is a very well-balanced wine with ripe black fruit characters, coffee, and chocolate interweaving harmoniously. There is an understated power to the wine, with layers of complexity building across the palate and then finishing elegantly with long, fine tannins. It is a generous wine yet retains poise and the elegance of great Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opaque crimson color. Minty eucalyptus aromas and a dark flower perfume lead to ample black currant fruit. A nice thread of minerality is discernible in the nose and on the palate. Wood aromas and flavors of coffee and chocolate have been seamlessly interwoven into this elegant Clare Valley claret. Those of us old enough and fortunate enough to have experienced the 1970s bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa wineries such as Yverden and Heitz Martha’s will find this red conjuring up the same palate memories. This is one of the best renditions of Cabernet Sauvignon I have had from the South Australia wine regions. ~94 WineLinesOnline
I've followed this wine since the 2006 vintage, and it's always a fine performer. The expected powerful mint character is here in youth, and a recent taste of the 2006 suggests that some time will mellow the mint and bring the rich berry and currant profile center stage. All the supple tannin and acidic structure for aging is here in this wine, and it's a perfect illustration of the "sense of place" idea that you hear us wine geeks talk about. ~93 Wine Review Online
Grilled-toast notes swirl around the bouquet of this cassis-scented wine. Leafy elements add complexity without being green, while a lifted cherry element brings vibrancy to the mix. This firm, structured wine features a long, mouthwatering finish that bodes well for cellaring. Try it after 2020. ~92 Wine Enthusiast, Cellar Selection
Bright opaque ruby. An attractive and multilayered South Australian red with iron, earth and blackberry fruit with ample fruit and toasty oak. Dry, and concentrated in the mouth with dense fruit and slightly hard tannins and baked fruits it finishes with good length and is a style that will build further complexity in bottle. ~92 Wine Genius
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