A Rodda Tete de Cuvee Beechworth Cabernets 2018

75/24/2% cabernet sauvignon /merlot/petit verdot. Hand-picked fruit, destemmed and crushed, held on skins for 18 days, pressed to French oak barriques (50% new) for 12 months then racked to old 600L oak casks for a further 8 months. Tête de Cuvée refers to a wine of the highest quality. Celebrating a top vintage with a new reserve wine, it is unusual (and quietly exciting) to see a quality cabernet blend out of Beechworth. Offers a tight-knit wine, a mere youngster still, firm in dry, grainy tannins, smart oak and serious, dark fruit flavours. It’s varietally on point, well balanced and assured of a big future. 94 Points – Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion 2022