2016 Summerfield Cabernet Sauvignon

Summerfield is a small family winery established by Ian Summerfield, whose family have lived and worked in the Pyrenees for over 100 years. It was in the 1960’s when farming was on a downturn that the Summerfield family made the decision to sell a section of the property to Walter Henning who proceeded to plant it to vines, which today are the original plantings of Taltarni.

Ian Summerfield drew inspiration from his neighbour’s endeavours and amidst challenging times for the farming industry, planting grapevines seemed a viable alternative to the other crops Ian and his family had previously produced, and so in the early 1970’s he planted 10 acres of predominantly Shiraz vines. Early crops were sold to Great Western (now Seppelts) and Chateau Remy (now Blue Pyrenees), however, as Ian’s knowledge in wine production and confidence in the future of the industry grew he made the decision to build a winery and employ industry legend Leo Hurley as winemaker, who had 50 years experience at Seppelts. Today with his son Mark in charge of winemaking, Summerfield are one of the Pyrenees top producers.

Rich, polished Pyrenees Cabernet.

Totally opaque black dark red colour with a deep dark red hue. Pronounced cassis and dark plum like aromas intermix with hints of choc mint and liquorice. Vanillin cedar, subtle tobacco and spice then chime in for added complexity. Full bodied with ample richness and a polished, opulent feel the mouth is flooded with ripe blackcurrant and dark plum fruit over a back drop of liquorice, vanillin oak, subtle tobacco characters and spice. Firmish yet velvet like tannins provide the structure. Excellent depth and power with a long ripe blackcurrant, earthy vanillin cedar, tobacco, dried herb and spice aftertaste.
Drink over next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.7%

Other Reviews.....
Mark Summerfield has long been at peace with his vines and his wines, so there's little or no point in asking rhetorical questions about the matching of American oak and cabernet, any more than Penfolds and Bin 707. And there's no denying the quality of this full-bodied cabernet, its ripe blackcurrant and its relatively soft tannins. Drink by 2036.
95 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion