Houghton CW Ferguson Cabernet Malbec 2017 (6 bottles)

Houghton was established in 1836, just four years after the fledgling colony of Western Australia was founded. It is one of Australia's oldest operating wineries. Houghton is now the tenth-largest red and white bottle brand in Australia, and sources fruit from every major premium grape-growing region in WA, including Gingin, Margaret River, Frankland River and Mount Barker in the Great Southern, and the emerging Pemberton region.

A wine of elegance and fruit power, C.W. Ferguson honours the contribution of early Houghton winemaker Charles William Ferguson. During his time at Houghton, Charles established a solid reputation for Houghton Wines. It was Charles who employed George Mann, father of legendary Houghton Winemaker Jack Mann.

A rich 68 per cent Cabernet, 32 per cent Malbec blend, wild yeast-open fermented, matured in Bordeaux-coopered barriques (33 per cent new) for 16 months. Frankland River offers the ability to make cabernet of intensity and length, yet make no demands on the taster for the calibrated flow along the palate. Closure: Screwcap; Drink to: 2037; Price: $78.00; Date Tasted: February 2020; Alcohol: 14%; Rating: 96 Points; James Halliday; Wine Companion

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A wine of elegance and fruit power, C.W. Ferguson honours t h e contribution of early Houghton winemaker Charles William Ferguson . During his time at Houghton, Charles established a solid reputation for Houghton Wines . It was Charles who employed George Mann, father of legendary Houghton Winemaker Jack Mann .

VINEYARD

100 % of the fruit for this wine was sourced from the sub region of Frankland River in the Great Southern wine growing region of Western Australia . The Frankland River area is characterised by cool winters, warm summer days and cool summer nights . The soils are some of the oldest degraded granitic gravels in the world .

VINTAGE

The 2017 vintage in Frankland River was characterized by persistent warm and dry conditions punctuated by several rain events during harvest . A return to healthy rainfall levels in the preceding winter and a wet, cool spring resulted in healthy vines carrying a good crop . This meant that the ripening and picking times were roughly three weeks later than the short term average . The weather conditions resulted in the harvest of Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon at full flavour ripeness with fine structured tannins.

WINEMAKING

Hand -picked fruit was hand sorted and crushed into a combination of small open top and static fermenters . The fermentation was undertaken by indigenous yeasts and lasted for eight days . The wine was then gently pressed off skins to tank, then transferred to high quality French oak, of which 33 % is new, for malolactic fermentation . Following 1 7 months maturation in oak, the individual parcels of wine were assessed, blended and prepared for bottle .

TASTING NOTES

Our wine is vibrant red/purple with a garnet hue . Brooding and complex, with bright fruit characters of mulberry, plum, blackberry and cassis combined with cedar, spice, dark chocolate and hints of vanillin derived from the classy oak maturation. A wonderfully rich and complex wine . The full flavoured palate displays complex bramble fruit, dark chocolate and an imposing presence . A firm, but fine tannin structure supports a wine of great length and density . All at once rich, complex and perfectly balanced ensuring a long future with years ahead of it . Cellar for 15 years and beyond .

ALCOHOL 14%

pH 3.6 1

ACIDITY 6.01 g/litre

WINEMAKER Ross Pamment

VINTAGE 2017

GROWING AREA Frankland river V

ARIETALS Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec,

FOOD MATCHING

Char grilled beef and hard cheeses

Alc: 14.5%
Vintage: 2017
Case: 6 Bottles
Size: 750ml

Liquor Act 2007
It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years. Liquor license LIQP770017007