2024 Jasper Hill Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc Organic, Heathcote

One of the enduring, great heroines of the Heathcote wine region; a wine significant in history and beautifully defining the concept of terroir. Inky dark purple and dense in hue – a Heathcote trademark. Taut and focused, far more than its '24 sibling; Emily isn't going anywhere too soon. Rather, it's got time on its vinous mind. Boasts a core of tightly coiled black and blue fruits, blackstrap licorice, vanilla pod, dusty cacao, allspice, crushed fennel seeds and red earth. There's an energy brewing – you can feel it. Tannins are ripe, in control and all set. All it needs now is time.

95 points Jeni Port winecompanion.com.au

Jasper Hill Emily’s Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc Organic is one of Australia’s great single-vineyard reds, renowned for its power, complexity, and striking individuality. Produced by Ron and Elva Laughton since the early 1980s, Emily’s Paddock is a distinctive vineyard in Heathcote, Central Victoria, planted in 1975 and named after their eldest daughter. Jasper Hill has always farmed the site organically and biodynamically, dry-growing the vines to encourage deep root systems and a natural balance between vine and soil. This meticulous approach, coupled with the vineyard’s ancient terroir, results in a wine of remarkable intensity and longevity.

The vineyard sits at around 320 metres elevation on a north-facing slope, planted predominantly to Shiraz with a small but crucial portion of Cabernet Franc interplanted. The soils are classic Heathcote Cambrian earth over granite and rock, offering excellent drainage and a deep mineral influence. The warm days and cool nights of Heathcote’s continental climate provide ideal ripening conditions, producing fruit of exceptional concentration and structure. Winemaking follows a traditional, low-intervention approach: hand harvesting, indigenous yeast fermentation, minimal handling, and maturation in French oak (about 20 percent new) for 15 to 18 months. The wine is neither fined nor filtered, preserving its natural texture and complexity.

In the glass, Emily’s Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc is deep crimson-purple. The nose is complex and compelling, with lifted aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, mint, and exotic spice, interwoven with savoury notes of graphite, cured meat, and earth. The Cabernet Franc component brings a distinctive aromatic lift and herbal nuance to the opulent Shiraz core. The palate is full bodied yet refined, with intense dark fruit layered over fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity, and a persistent mineral line. The finish is long, structured, and graceful, revealing both power and finesse.

This wine pairs superbly with roasted lamb, grilled venison, beef Wellington, or richly spiced vegetarian dishes like lentil and mushroom stew. It’s built to age magnificently, evolving over decades into a wine of profound savoury depth, truffle, leather, and spice complexity.