From the close planted Crayères vineyard in Wrattonbully, and what a pleasure to see more Australian straight Cab Franc. Handpicked, the Terre à Terre Cabernet Franc 2016 spends a huge 28 months in oak (25% new). And oak is the dominant flavour, a high quality sheen of chocolate cream that sits on top of the palate.
I rather like the form underneath all that oak, the palate ripe, slightly warm, plush, smooth and silken, with proper quality tannins (hence the score), but I do wonder when, if ever, the oak will settle down. Right Bank Bordeaux is the pitch here, although there is a whisper of Wrattonbully mint. Worth a revisit to see if things come together. Best drinking: in at least five years. Then it will live for decades. 17.5/20, 91/100+. 14.2%, $40. Would I buy it? Not yet.
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Coincidentally I just had a bottle of Cabernet Franc, from Fruili in northern Italy and also from the 2016 vintage. It was a refreshing 13% alcohol and had no chocolate or mint notes, just dark fruit, savoury tannins, and that hint of greenness that I so like about Cabernet Franc. And it was only half the price. Though I have to say my bottle might not last for decades.