Highbank Coonawarra Basket Pressed (Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc) 1997

The 1997 vintage was small in volume, and fortunately, as is the usual scenario for low yielding harvests, the quality commensurately went up. Fruit flavors are extra concentrated and this is immediately obvious just by looking at the wine. It is dark, deep, purple red to the point of almost being black. There is color all the way to the rim of the glass. The blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc offers immense concentration on the nose with ripe and sweet fruit flavors such as blackcurrants and blackberries, plums and cherries mixing with the more savoury, secondary flavors like tobacco, earth/mineral and nutty aromas. In addition there is an overlay of vanilla from judicious use of new oak barrels. Whilst the palate sees all the flavors identified on the nose it is the fruit flavors that tend to dominate now, because the wine is so youthful. The secondary characters will take a few years to soften and integrate. Because of the lower than normal yields, which are very low anyway, the wine has a rich thick texture as it glides over the tongue. The finish lingers on with the assistance of ample acidity and very firm, finely grained tannins. It is not advised to drink this wine immediately. it has been made for at least medium term cellaring and quite possibly will develop and mature for many years. I would recommend waiting a minimum of 5 years, with potential to age for a further 10 years or so. If you can't help yourself and need to drink a bottle or two now make sure you serve an appropriate dish to help soften the firmness of the tannins. Then you will enjoy the depth of fruit flavor even more. The best style of dishes to fit this requirement are slow cooked braising meals using flavorsome cuts of beef served in rich juices flavored with plenty of herbs and root vegetables.