Bec Hardy Pertaringa Rifle & Hunt Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The team have not named this wine in honour of some Downton Abbey-like hunt where gentlemen in tweed slaughter the resident population of partridge and quail. Rather, the reason is a little more prosaic. The property is on the corner of Rifle Range and Hunt Roads in McLaren Vale. No doubt the local poultry are very grateful. The wine spent nineteen months maturing in French oak hogsheads, 20% of which were new. Under cork. Black/maroon with a very dark blood red rim, the nose reveals aromas of tobacco leaves, cassis, chocolate, mushrooms, spices, beef stock and blackberries. There are hints of freshly turned earth as well. Excellent oak integration ties everything together and we can see the early signs of complexity emerging. The palate is all about chocolate. The wine is well structured with serious length through to very fine tannins. Absolutely delicious, there is much to love here. It will surely provide immense pleasure for at least twenty years. It would probably pair very nicely with either partridge or quail, if there are any left.