Dominique Portet, Yarra Valley (Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

 Great wine runs in Dominique Portet’s blood; his father served as the winery and vineyard manager at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, where Dominique was first introduced to the wine trade.  After working in some of the most esteemed wineries and wine regions across the world, Dominique set out to create a winery celebrating the potential of cool-climate wine in Australia.  The bouquet of his 2017 Cabernet is hauntingly beautiful and decadently layered.  Mint and eucalyptus give way to vanilla and rose petals, which in turn make way for black currant and red cherry.  On the palate, chewy tannins meet vibrant acidity and moderate alcohol (13.5%) to form a wine that is impeccably well balanced.  With 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc, this wine brings together the nuance and structure of great Cabernet but in a package that is brighter and more accessible (both in terms of its readiness to drink and price) than one might imagine.  With food or on its own, this wine is a joy to drink and ponder.