Woodlands Vineyard
2015 Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon 'Russell'
2015 Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon 'Russell'
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Woodlands Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from our original vines on our south facing slope. Each year we name it after a family member of family friend. For 2015 we have named our Cabernet “Russell” after Russell Cook. Famous not just for his winemaking but also for his Ironman pedigree, Russell has been a tireless supporter and an enormous help for our family for over 20 years.
Our Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from our original plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc found on our south-facing slope. The soil profile of this slope is generally sandy loam over gravel and clay. The top of the slope, where the Cabernet Franc is planted, has significantly more gravel in its soil. These four small plots receive the greatest number of sunlight hours on our vineyard, but the east-west orientation of the vines ensures a slow fruit maturation. These are the last batches we harvest each year.
2015 featured a generous winter and an abundant spring rainfall. We had very little rain from November until March, with warm and sunny conditions across the region.
Undesirable high winds at flowering time unfortunately led to lower crops of our Cabernet. However, having lower than normal yields, allowed the surviving fruit to develop more intense fruit flavours and character, therefore the wines produced from this year are aromatically fruit forward and rich in body.
This wine was harvested between 25th of March and the 9th of April, yielding 6.21 tonnes per hectare. After being picked, the fruit was destemmed before passing over our vibrating sorting table. Once sorted and crushed, this wine was fermented in small closed fermenters. Following fermentation, the Cabernet Sauvignon must remained on skins for 28 days before being pressed for the secondary malolactic fermentation to occur.
Afterwards, the wine was transferred into new French medium toast barrels to mature for 19 months.
The colour is bright crimson, deep rose red. The nose is very expressive with notes of mulberry, brambly red berry fruits, and toasty vanilla French oak.
The palate is supple and rich, with a seamless carry between red berry fruits, oak, and mineral tannin. The finish is cool, a nice contrast to the richness of the palate.
On the first night the wine was a little closed and subdued, and on the second night hints of aniseed and black fruits came to the forefront of the palate. By the third night, the wine looked glorious- revealing an underlying slate like texture- very mineral and very fine. With air this wine is much more complex, and shows less of the primary fruit flavours.
This wine is a powerhouse, and a great standard bearer for the 2015 vintage. It’s dense without being sweet, and complex while remaining fresh. Best enjoyed from 2025 to 2030.
From The Museum
2021 'Graham'
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is named after Graham Watson, David's brother.
Very deep crimson in colour, the nose shows an array of blue fruits, violet, and tight grain oak - Classic Woodlands in character.
The palate is cool, balanced and medium bodied. Juicy blue fruit notes feature over blackcurrant and cedary oak, with nuances of lavender and dried herbs. It finishes with soft ripe tannins and fresh acidity.
Our 2021 'Graham' will be best enjoyed from 2032.
2020 'Eleanor'
'Eleanor' named fter Elizabeth and Ben's daughter, is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.
The colour is a very deep crimson. The nose features a brooding mix of violet, red and black fruits, and dry garden herbs. On opening, charry oak is predominant, but time and aeration integrates all the components.
The palate is firm and dense, blue fruits combining with ripe mulberry and blackcurrant. Clean racy acidity runs throughout, adding tension and minerality. The finish is long and dry, leaving a lasting impression of power.
It will be best enjoyed from 2033 to 2040.
2019 'Ruby Jane'
Named after 'Ruby Jane'- Elizabeth and Ben's daughter, and granddaughter of Heather and David.
Our 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 'Ruby Jane' is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet Franc.
2019 'Ruby Jane' has a deep crimson, dense ruby colour. The nose is beautifully aromatic -violet leaps out immediately, followed by star anise, dark cherries and black berries, with notes of sandalwood and dried herbs. Earthy and complex, this wine smells of its soil.
The palate is modern and aristocratic. Boldly feminine and elegant -the palate features soft juicy, bright red fruits and dark cherries, then liquorice, dried tea leaves and cloves emerge, leading to violet on the finish. Wonderful balance.
Best enjoyed between 2028 to 2035.
2018 'Xavier'
Named after ‘Xavier’ - Andrew and Marie’s son. Born just at the tail end of vintage in May 2018.
Our 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Xavier’ is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 1% Cabernet Franc.
This wine has an extremely dense colour, intensely purple like our Malbec. The nose is very dense and tightly wound on opening - certainly needing time and air to open up fully. Layers of dark fruits, violet, and mixed summer herbs mingle with notes of white peppercorn and juniper. Some tight grain French oak completes the picture.
The palate is all about density and power. Focused and linear, at this stage the palate needs some time to unwind. Violet and dark red fruits appear over a wall of ripe velvety tannin and French oak influences, opening up to reveal more layers of dark fruits, spice and bay leaf.
Best enjoyed between 2030 to 2045.
2017 'Chloe Anne'
Named after 'Chloe Anne', Stuart and Shelley's eldest daughter to mark her 18th Birthday.
'Chloe Anne' is a blend of 91 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 3% Cabernet Franc.
The colour is an intensely deep crimson. The nose elicits a lifted aromatic array of violet, toasty French oak, vanilla and notes of mint. The palate opens with blue fruits and violet. After time blackcurrant and brambly fruits appear, as well as undergrowth and forest floor complexities. After even more time, darker fruits emerge, the flavours integrate more, and the tannin becomes more prominent and textured. Supple but with latent power, this wine has a very long finish marked by fresh natural acidity.
Best enjoyed between 2027 to 2038.
2016 'Clémentine Eloise'
Named after Andrew and Marie’s daughter born in 2016.
Our 2016 is a captivating dark crimson, sitting in the glass with confidence and ease. The nose is magnetic and engaging, with a spirited crunch and vibrant red fruits interlaced with violet and black rose tea. A backdrop of dark cherries and blackcurrant mixes with scented aromatics of mace and sandalwood. The palate is pristine and polished, and sheathed in a velvet veil of tannin, promising years in the cellar.
A timeless and elegant Cabernet- like the movie “Casablanca” it dances, unravels and weaves, and tells a story you will want to watch time and time again..
Best enjoyed from 2022 to 2040.
2015 'Russell'
Named after “Russell” after Russell Cook. Famous not just for his winemaking but also for his Ironman pedigree, Russell has been a tireless supporter and an enormous help for our family for over 20 years.
The colour is bright crimson, deep rose red. The nose is very expressive with notes of mulberry, brambly red berry fruits, and toasty vanilla French oak.
The palate is supple and rich, with a seamless carry between red berry fruits, oak, and mineral tannin. The finish is cool, a nice contrast to the richness of the palate.
This wine is a powerhouse, and a great standard bearer for the 2015 vintage. It’s dense without being sweet, and complex while remaining fresh.
Best enjoyed from 2025 to 2030.
2014 'Matthew'
Named after Stuart and Shelley’s son born in 2014.
This wine is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc.
The colour is intense deep crimson. The nose is expressive and powerful, showing primary Cabernet characters of blackcurrant, mulberry and dark cherry combined with tight grained French Oak.
On opening the palate is dense, but shows great balance and finesse. There is a lovely softness and suppleness to the palate that overlays a powerful core of old vine Cabernet fruit. Hints of vanilla, mint and bay leaf emerge and combine with the primary fruit flavours as the wine opens up over the first hour. Given enough air and time, the tannins soften and the wine opens up to reveal more nuance, but still at this stage maintaining its' youthful power.
Best enjoyed from 2028 to 2040
2013 'Benjamin'
Named after Benjamin Saunders, marrying Elizabeth Watson in 2013.
This wine is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.
The colour is a deep crimson. The nose is dense and brooding, with red and black fruits, dark chocolate andtoasty barrelnotes. The palate is supple, balanced and refined, with fine-grained tannins runningthe length. A very aristocratic wine, it promises to be absolute classic.
Best enjoyed from 2025 to 2042.
2012 'Thomas'
This wine is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.
The colour is a deep crimson. The nose is dense and brooding, with red andblack fruits, dark chocolate and toasty barrel notes. The palate is supple, balancedand refined, with fine-grained tannins running the length. A very aristocratic wine, it promises to be absolute classic.
Best enjoyed from 2025 to 2040.
Our original vineyard – Established in 1973
Woodlands Vineyard
In 1973 cuttings were taken from a nearby vineyard, and an initial planting of eight acres was made in rows heading east-west along the contour of the property – 3 meters between rows and 1.75 meters between vines. The initial planting comprised 3 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. A further 5 acres was planted between 1974 and 1976, comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. The old block was completed in 1985, with 4 acres of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon planted. Subsequent plantings now sees Woodlands with a total of twenty six acres (ten hectares) of vines.
This vineyard is certified organic.
