Recently, our owner Tom Wisdom spoke with The Australian about the history of Cabernet in Mount Barker and the science behind what makes the Great Southern such a special wine region. We wanted to share some of those insights here.
Back in the 1960s, researchers were looking across WA for the best places to establish vineyards, studying climate, soil and altitude to understand where different varieties would thrive. One of the tools they used was the Winkler Index, which measures heat accumulated during the growing season.
Mount Barker stood out, with a heat profile remarkably similar to Bordeaux.
As Tom explained to The Australian:
“Mount Barker was selected basically because it almost had identical heat load accumulation to Bordeaux, which is classified as a cool climate wine region per the Winkler index.”
It’s an interesting comparison, not because we’re trying to make Mount Barker Cabernet taste like Bordeaux, but because the cool climate and long growing season provide the conditions Cabernet needs to ripen slowly while retaining freshness, acidity and structure.
Plantagenet was established in 1968, just a few years after the first trial plantings in Mount Barker, and Cabernet has remained an important part of our story ever since.
The Great Southern is also an enormous region (around 100km by 200km) yet only a small proportion is planted to vines. As Tom puts it:
“So you start to build up a picture that only the very best parts of the region have been planted to grapes.”
For us, that goes a long way to explaining the character of Great Southern Cabernet. Tom describes it as:
“a very elegant expression of cabernet sauvignon, very fine boned, very subtle, very savoury, perfect for very long ageing.”
Our 2021 Aquitaine Cabernet Sauvignon is a reflection of that style and our long connection with Mount Barker. Recently featured in The Australian, it’s another opportunity to showcase what this region can do with Cabernet and the qualities that have made it so well suited to the variety for more than 50 years.
The Australian Wine Club Review
Plantagenet Aquitaine Great Southern Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
“There’s a glint of deep ruby that draws you in, followed by a nose of blackcurrant and cassis with dark chocolate, liquorice and bay leaf. The palate is concentrated and full of ripe fruit, sitting in a balanced structure and dressed in a pleasing acidity. It’s well-balanced, generous and appealing with a clean, smooth finish.”
14% alc | RRP $45 a bottle
Review originally published by The Australian Wine Club.