2024 Dominique Portet Fontaine Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley

A blend of 60/29/6/5% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/cabernet franc. Matured in 15% French oak. An excellent edition of this perennially good and well-priced wine. A deep, bright crimson purple. Explodes from the glass with ripe blackcurrant fruit, violets and a hint of cedar. Medium bodied, with excellent verve and silky (for cabernet) long-chained tannins. Great now and over the next four to six years. One of the Yarra's absolutely best buys.

95 points Special Value Philip Rich winecompanion.com.au

Dominique Portet carries a remarkable winemaking lineage that stretches back ten generations in Bordeaux before the family established their Australian estate in the Yarra Valley in 2000. Dominique Portet, formerly of the famed Château Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux, brought generations of Cabernet expertise with him when he settled in Victoria. Today the winery is run alongside his son Ben Portet, continuing a tradition of elegant, Bordeaux inspired wines from carefully selected Yarra Valley vineyards. The Fontaine range is crafted to showcase the freshness and approachability of the region while maintaining structure and balance.

Deep crimson with ruby highlights, the aromas are classic Cabernet. Blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum rise from the glass alongside hints of bay leaf, cedar and dried herbs. Subtle notes of cocoa and spice add complexity while maintaining a lifted, fragrant profile.

The wine shows lovely balance between fruit and structure, with ripe dark berries supported by fine tannins and bright acidity. Flavours of cassis, mulberry and gentle spice develop across the wine while restrained oak provides texture and shape. The finish is smooth and persistent with lingering notes of black fruit and savoury herbs.

Roast lamb, grilled steak, slow cooked beef or mature cheddar pair beautifully with this style. With its balance of fruit and structure, Fontaine Cabernet Sauvignon will continue to develop gracefully for ten to fifteen years, gaining further savoury complexity with time.