Levantine Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Levantine Hill Estate is a remarkable vineyard that has merged two vineyards in the heart of the Yarra Valley. The first vineyard has been producing superior grapes since the 1990s, while the other vineyard comprises lovingly planted family blocks surrounding the Homestead and a truffiére. Together, these two vineyards have become a testament to the passion and toil of dedicated human hands and man's tenuous relationship with the nurturing love of Mother Nature. Levantine Hill Estate began against the odds when the experts told the owners that the chosen piece of the Yarra Valley was far too steep and had too many underlying rocky outcrops, making it impossible to plant viable vines. However, the owners saw the potential and used a diamond-tipped drilling rig to remove the rocks, making Levantine Hill Estate take shape. Today, Levantine Hill Estate is a family vineyard that only bottles premium wines in impeccable years. The vineyard rises from the shores of the Yarra River at 75 meters and peaks at 225 meters above sea level. The vines thrive in looking out over steep clay loam slopes, at similar elevations to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis, France. The slopes, amphitheatres, valleys and orientation combine to create a distinct microclimate in each paddock. Levantine Hill Estate's uniqueness is evident in its Estate and Family Paddocks range, drawn respectively from its Maroondah Highway and Hill Road single vineyard sites. The wines are complex and classic, yet fresh, drawing inspiration from their historical heartland in France. The specificity of their faithful expression of the vineyard sites makes them highly individual and unable to be replicated anywhere else in the world. Levantine Hill Estate is committed to pursuing perfection, believing that perfection has no end point. Every member of the team is dedicated to creating only wines of finesse, longevity and outstanding character.
The Yarra Valley boasts a rich winemaking history that dates back to the mid-19th century. Today, it is recognized as one of Australia's premier wine regions, celebrated for its exceptional cool-climate varietals. From elegant Chardonnays to vibrant Pinot Noirs, the Yarra Valley produces wines of exceptional quality and complexity. The region's unique combination of cool temperatures and diverse soil types creates the perfect conditions for grape cultivation. Rolling hills, lush vineyards and gently flowing rivers contribute to the Yarra Valley's idyllic terroir, resulting in wines that beautifully express the characteristics of the land.
The Levantine Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout wine that showcases the exceptional quality of the 2018 vintage. This timelessly refined varietal expression is the result of an assemblage of fourteen individual small batches sourced from Blocks 8, 10 and 11 on the Maroondah Highway vineyard. The late season Cabernet Sauvignon benefited greatly from the favourable conditions, showing taut slow-building power in a medium-bodied framework with restraint and precision. On the nose, this wine offers up intense signature aromas of blackberry, red currant, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, candied citrus peel, coriander seed and freshly ploughed earth. The poised slow-build powerful palate delivers nerve, verve and drive from the interplay of defined natural acidity and wash of juicy red fruit over the mid-palate with supporting flavours of bramble, chicory, smoked paprika and chargrilled meats. Oak character is quietly supportive in concert with cumulative fine-grained tannins. This wine is an absolute classic representation of the suitability of this revered variety to the region. It confidently pushes through the palate to a long and reverberate finish, leaving a lasting impression on the senses.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet Sauvignon
Country - Australia
Region - Yarra Valley
Vintage - 2018
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%