Fox Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

The wine draws fruit from the Estate’s relatively youthful but increasingly impressive 8 acre Willows Block planted in 1989 and Short and Long Row Vineyards planted in 1993. Some old vine material from local growers is also used. The soils are mainly Bay of Biscay cracking clays which dry out in the summer but have excellent moisture holding capacity in winter. The wine is vinified in open fermenters with regular pumping over. Around 10-20% of the wine is barrel fermented in French oak to achieve more complexity. Early vintages comprised significant use of American oak. The philosophy of “preserving fruit without smothering with oak” and achieving “intensity and finesse” has lead to a longer maturation period of 16-19 months in an increasing percentage of new and used French oak.