Cabernet Franc

The Yarra Valley's reputation for Cabernet Franc rests on its cool, maritime-influenced climate, where the Upper Yarra's volcanic and clay-loam soils slow ripening enough to preserve the variety's signature pyrazine lift without tipping into green severity. From The Valley sources fruit from established Yarra floor and hillside blocks, where elevation and aspect moderate afternoon heat and lock in natural acidity. Whole-bunch fermentation is central to the winemaking approach here, contributing stem tannin, spice, and the crunchy red-fruit character that separates this bottling from more extracted, oak-driven Cab Franc styles. Maturation is kept deliberately restrained — older French oak is used to avoid masking varietal expression, allowing the grape's violet, red-currant, and earthy tobacco character to remain the primary voice. What sets this expression apart within the Australian Cab Franc field is its commitment to transparency over structure: low intervention from vineyard to bottle keeps the wine site-legible rather than winemaker-legible. Drink now through 2027 for primary fruit freshness, or cellar to 2029 for greater textural integration.