Saint Clair Pioneer Block 30 Cabernet Franc 2020

The Block 30 Cabernet Franc has its fruit sourced from a single vineyard on Mere Road, within the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district of Hawke’s Bay. The vigour moderating, free draining gravel provides a superb base for this low cropping Cabernet Franc. This vineyard site has ideal ripening conditions for achieving the intense aromatics and delicate structure that Cabernet Franc can give.

Winemaking duty for Hawke’s Bay sector of Saint Clair operations goes to Hamish Clark and Kyle Thompson.  According to their instructions, after the harvest, the fruit was held cold for four days prior to ferment to help extract maximum flavour and enhance colour stability.

Selected yeast was used. Inoculation took place to carry out the primary alcoholic fermentation during which the fermenting must was hand plunged up to four times daily. When dry the young wine was pressed and then racked off gross lees to 14 per cent new French oak and 86 per cent seasoned French oak. The wine underwent a clean malolactic fermentation while ageing in oak for 11 months.

The Block 30 Cabernet Franc offers intense aroma and palate on red berries, dark floral, cocoa and mix of sweet spice. The finish on the palate has pleasant mineral flavours. Consider its decent acidity and structure, there is some room for bottle ageing improvement.