92 Points – James Halliday

James Halliday writes in Wine Companion that “the impact of the distinctly cooler Blewitt Springs area is immediately obvious, with fine spicy notes running through the black cherry and chocolate fruit”

Five Geese is made by Hillgrove Wines, a small McLaren Vale winery specialising in red wine; Shiraz, a Grenache/Shiraz blend and Cabernet, producing premium wines that are recognised as value for money.

The fruit for the Five Geese Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 was sourced from Sue Trott’s McLaren Flat vineyard, with its iron rich soils anchoring the vines against the fierce gully winds, delivering the intensity and depth indicative of this region. Nestled in Blewitt Springs at the north-eastern end of the McLaren Vale valley, the vineyard lies about 180m above sea level. This slightly higher elevation provides a cooler climate than nearby McLaren Vale and Willunga, providing a long, even ripening season for the fruit.

The fruit was pruned for low yields, with minimal intervention throughout the year. Plucked from the vine in a dry, but not excessively hot vintage, carefully tended by Mike Farmilo and his team, the wine was put through a complex barreling with new French, and used American oak barriques for a period of 20 months. The result is a wine with excellent cellaring potential, providing ample reward for those of us with the necessary patience.

The Five Geese Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 has a deep, ruby red colour in the glass, with complex bouquet of ripe berry and mocha coffee oak aromas and a delicate whiff of mint. A palate rich with sweet red and black fruits. Soft cocoa and fine velvety tannins deliver a lingering, more-ish finish.