Fox Creek 1998 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

appearance
Strong deep cherry red rim with a dark brick red core.

bouquet
The nose shows quite powerful notes of blackberry, chocolate, mocha and spicy cinnamon oak. Liquorice aromas with a hint of herbal mint adds to a very complex wine indicative of the ‘98 vintage.

palate
The palate does not disappoint with a strong entry of intense berry flavours and typical McLaren Vale complexity of spice and chocolate mocha notes. Liquorice and blackcurrant flavours give a sweet rich palate that has soft integrated tannins. Oak maturation is evident but balanced while the finish is long, supported by ripe tannins beginning to drink well and should cellar easily until 2010.

winemaking
The fruit (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) for the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from two main vineyards at Fox Creek and harvested at 14.2 Baumé. Although the Baumé is an important measurement, the principal harvesting criterion is flavour. One parcel of the wine (approx 70%) was given extended contact on skins after normal 8 day fermentation. The extended period varies with each wine and from year to year. For this wine the period was a further 24 days. The other parcel of wine (30%) was barrel fermented to achieve an early integration of oak characters. Oak used was 100% French, with 95% being new oak. Wine was held for 15 months in oak, during which time it was pumped to tank and returned to oak 3 times. This process gives us the style of wine we desire and also offers us a chance to make any adjustments necessary, be it oak handling or acidity checks.

technical analysis

ph
3.41  TA 6.5  Alcohol 14.5%

ageing potential
This wine has been cellared at Fox Creek Wines for 5 years since bottling to ensure optimum drinking at the time of release. The Reserve Cabernet is heading into a phase where it is most enjoyable now and will reach a peak in the next 2 years. From this time until 2010 it will hold its qualities, however the fruit will mellow with bottle age.

awards
Gold Medal, Perth Royal Wine Show 1999 Silver Medal, Royal Brisbane Wine Show 1999 Highly Recommended, Winewise Magazine 2000 92+ Points, Robert Parker Jnr, The Wine Advocate 2001
Silver Medal, Royal Brisbane Wine Show 1999
Bronze Medal, Royal Adelaide Wine Show 1999
Bronze Medal, McLaren Vale Wine Show 1999
Highly recommended Winewise Magazine 2000
92+ points Robert Parker Jnr. in the Wine Advocate 2001

viticulturist
Paul Watts

winemakers
Dan Hills & Tony Walker

The 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is brilliant. Opaque black/purple-colored with an explosive nose of licorice, blackberry, cassis, tar, and new oak, this huge, ripe wine (it was aged in 100% new French oak) is layered, thick, smoky, concentrated, and a true blockbuster from this superb vintage. One thousand five-hundred cases were produced. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2018.