Winemaker: Andy Smith
WlNEMAKER NOTES:
100% Estate grown fruit produced and bottled at Larkmead Vineyards
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc Aged for 17 months in 60% new medium toast French oak barrels
Deep ruby red. Ripe black fruits dominate the aroma — cassis, blackberry and dark cherry with floral violet, dark spicy soy and classic mint notes. Supple red fruits open the palate then a solid dense core of mixed black fruit and peripheral plum and kirsch flavors. With aeration the gravelly Larkmead character emerges competing for attention with further layers of chewy opulent dark fruit. Broad and densely-structured tannins provide grip and dimension to the back end. Nice fresh lift and
persistency to the finish.
Our new release 2009 Estate Cabernet is a dynamic fruit-filled wine that will naturally seduce. The
cool 2009 summer growing conditions really drive the wines elevated fruit profile while the vineyards low crop level ensures that this fruit has great natural density and concentration, but never at the
expense of freshness and vibrancy.
More fruit-driven than its 2008 predecessor, there's plenty of striking Larkmead character evident, but at this early stage it's
partially buried under these waves of irresistible supple fruit, such is the 2009 vintage signature. With two to four years of bottle
development, I'd expect the full vineyard character to assert itself as we've seen with our 2007 Cabernet, to which this new release is most comparable. Don't be afraid to tuck a few bottles away for ten to twelve years' cellaring as this vintage has all the ingredients to
mature beautifully in bottle. -Winemaker Andy Smith

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