Frankland Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- 93
- $35
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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It seems that the glories of the 2023 vintage can be found in wine regions across the State. First plantings for the team went into the ground in 1988, in their Isolation Ridge Vineyard, and includes the Cabernet Sauvignon vines which provided the fruit for this wine. After an extended maceration, maturation was in 500-litre French oak puncheons. Dark maroon in colour, this is a slightly austere style with notes of tobacco leaves, warm earth, blackberries, dusty cocoa powder, plums, graphite, herbs and beef stock. There are hints of sour cherries on the finish. The wine is of medium to good length, quite a powerful and muscular style, finishing with firm, furry tannins. It can easily be cellared for the next decade and will continue to improve over that period.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
