Howard Vineyard Amos Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2014

Making Cabernet based wines in the Adelaide Hills must be a tricky proposition. Not only do you need A1 viticulture to get grapes ripe, but I can’t imagine it would be an easy sell. Still, kudos if you can get it right.

The Howard Vineyard have made this pursuit their own, and the ‘Amos’ is their Cab flagship. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. Cold soaked, the wine spends 2 years in barrel before bottling without fining or filtration.

Serious handling.

This is aspirational wine too. It’s a bit severe, the wine flirting with astringency and quite severe tannins. But the length, and surprising mid palate juiciness/oak sweetness save this from the exctractive depths. It’s not exactly a seductive style, but no doubt this will still be kicking – and possibly quite attractive – in another decade. If the astringency doesn’t take over first. Best drinking: 2018-2030. 17/20, 90/100. 13.2%, $50. Would I buy it? I’d like to see this as an older wine. Someone buy some and let’s give it a go in 2026.