Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cab. Sauv. 2021

The Ribbon Vale vineyard lies in Wilyabrup, at the heart of the Margaret River wine region in the south-west of Western Australia. Owned by Moss Wood, this site next to the historic estate enjoys a mild maritime climate influenced by the Indian and Southern Oceans. The vines are planted on gravel and loam soils over clay, allowing efficient drainage while retaining a valuable water reserve. This combination of ocean freshness, steady sunshine and poor soils allows slow, even ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and then fermented in stainless-steel tanks with regular pump-overs. After maceration on the skins, the wine is pressed and begins its malolactic fermentation in French oak barriques. Ageing continues in French oak barrels, a proportion of them new, before blending and bottling.

This wine reveals notes of blackcurrant, blackberry and black plum, lifted by floral touches of violet. Ageing brings hints of cedar, cigar box, vanilla and cocoa, while a hint of graphite underlines its classic Cabernet expression. The palate is broad and precise, with a fresh backbone, tight yet ripe tannins and a velvety texture. The long, balanced finish extends the fruity, spicy and oaky flavours with lovely persistence.

Australia began making wine more than two centuries ago. The result is a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and a deep-rooted knowledge of and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude and a varied portfolio of 65 wine regions across many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country like few others. Australia burst onto export markets in the 1980s and has since offered the whole world vibrant, fruity wines of exceptional value. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the story of Australian wine was dominated by over-concentrated examples of Shiraz, Grenache and red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's high-quality and regional wines, which has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated along the southern ocean fringe, where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, located around the major cities: Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the world's largest wine producers and was the 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries today for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines, which are defined by their terroir.