Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Cabernet Franc 2021
- 92
- $50
- Drink by: 2023-2028
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Always interesting to see grapes which seem so often condemned to an occasional cameo given star status and how they perform. This Cab Franc hails from the Griffin Road Vineyard in the Orange region. Natural fermentation takes place in a single open fermenter, followed by maturation in French barriques for thirteen months, one third new. There is surprising elegance here. The colour is a deep crimson. We have perfumes of red fruits with some leafy notes, spices, dry herbs, raspberries and cherries. There is a hint of oak, but it is well integrated into what is a seamless wine, with a seductive texture, mid-length, fine tannins and good focus. Still youthful, this has four to five years of pleasure ahead of it. A fine example of an elegant Cabernet Franc gone solo.
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.
