Terre à Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (Wrattonbully, SA)
14.5% Screwcap, $40

Every year Xavier Bizot’s Terre à Terre vineyard gets a little older, the back-breakingly short, close-planted vines get a little stronger and the wines get a little more ethereal. Indeed this 2012 Cabernet is easily the best wine yet with a Terre à Terre label. High fives all round.

A light maroon red colour (I’m guessing some very careful extraction judging by how ‘not black’ this is) and very bright, this Cabernet is cast in a charming, ‘pencils and purple fruit’ style (no Wrattonbully eucalypt) with a backdrop of fine, firm, real tannins.

For all the structural finesse, this is actually quite plum and full through the middle yet the generosity never feels overwrought, the tidiness through the finish more than welcome.

Genuinely high quality and genuinely enjoyable with my only quibble some slight alcohol warmth to cap off the purple fruit.

Source: Sample
Tasted: July 2014
Drink: 2014-2024
Score: 18.2/20, 93/100
Would I buy it? I’d definitely buy a bottle or two, if just to see what happens (much potential).