2018 Teusner + Page Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley

The Barossa’s diverse landscape produces a wide array of expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon. Everyone’s allowed to have their favorites, for me that’s grown at altitude in the Eden Valley. Up there, the vineyards produce Cabernet that is well... more ‘Cabernet like’, with bright expression of classic varietal blackcurrant character, really nice acidity and fine grained tannins. In contrast, Barossa Valley Cabernet brings ‘the tasty factor’ to the glass….loads of rich, generous black fruit. In my mind, the contrasting characters of Eden Valley and Barossa Valley work extraordinarily well when they become companions in the bottle.

The Eden Valley component (75%) comes from David Forrest’s vineyard planted at around 450 meters above sea level, easily some of the best Cabernet tasted each year. The Barossa portion (25%) is from the Righteous vineyard at Marananga, just across the way from the Torbreck Laird vineyard, at around 270 meters. Ther fruit’s vinified separately and then matured in a 50/50 blend of new French oak barriques and older seasoned wood.