The Shiraz (80%) for this year’s Rusden Ripper Creek Shiraz Cabernet ripened quite early in a dry, warm and mild vintage. Yields were below average and the result is a fruit forward, juicy little number that over-delivers as usual.
With a touch of barbeque herb rub from the Cabernet (20%) and layers of dark fruits and liquorice on the nose, this years’ Ripper has vibrant dense fruit on the palate, hints of cocoa and vanilla and gentle tannins which provide a lush finish. Drink now or cellar comfortably for 8-12 years.
“My dad always said how much he loved drinking the Cabernet/Shiraz blends that were going around in the 60’s and 70’s. Not too many folks put these wines in the cellar back then because they were pretty easy to slip into straight away. Luckily, Dad put enough away for me to get a try of a few old rippers with a couple of decades of age on them which was the motivation for this traditional blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from vines grown on our hand-tended vineyard in Vine Vale. We’ve blended these two varieties together after open fermentation, basket pressing and ageing in old casks in the family winery – just like they were made back then.
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