Dominique Portet Yarra Valley Cabernet

Dominique Portet’s Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a exercise in the balance of new world fruit intensity and French-inspired restraint from down under. Sourced primarily from estate vineyards in the Upper Yarra and supplemented by select growers across the region, the fruit benefits from long, even ripening seasons, resulting in ripe tannins, vivid aromatics, and balanced acidity. The wine undergoes traditional vinification: fermentation in stainless steel with gentle pumpovers, followed by 18 months in French oak barriques (around one-third new), lending a polished frame to the wine’s expressive fruit. It opens with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, bay leaf, and violet, with earthy underpinnings of pencil shavings, cigar box, and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied but structured, with fine, chalky tannins and a bright acid profile that carries flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, dried herbs, and a hint of mint. There’s a savory, almost mineral character at its core that speaks to its Yarra Valley origin and winemaker Ben Portet’s deft hand in maintaining freshness and balance. With an ABV around 14%, this Cabernet offers both approachability and aging potential. A truly international wine that stylistically spans oceans, refined enough for classicists, but vibrant and fruit-driven enough to please modern palates. Whether enjoyed along side classic Aussie grilled lamb or enjoyed solo, this bottle is a testament to the finesse and longevity that Yarra Valley Cabernet can deliver under the guidance of one of the region’s most pedigreed producers.

Winemaker: Ben Portet

Grape(s): 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petite Verdot

GI: Yarra Valley

Site(s): Estate vineyards across Yarra Valley Vintage notes: 2018 was a warm, dry vintage that gave moderate yields that resulted in a dark fruit spectrum, but with plenty of acidity and structure. A cabernet vintage (over supporting grapes), with one of the highest percentages of cabernet seen in this wine.

Vineyard notes: The cabernet sauvignon comes from a mature Yarra Valley vineyard in Coldstream planted in soils of sandstone over clay. The remainder of the varieties in blend – petit verdot, malbec, cabernet franc come from our estate vineyard – also in Coldstream. Estate vineyards are farmed with soil health as top priority, with herbicides being eliminated in recent years, manual undervine cultivation, and the planting of cover crops.

Winemaking: The hand-picked grapes are sorted on the winery’s state-of-the-art sorting line, then destemmed and gently crushed. The wine spends 25 days on skins to develop structure and a silky texture while still at peak freshness. It is aged in French oak (35% new) for 14 months before being bottled in August 2019.

Closure: Natural cork

ABV: 13.5%

Tasting notes: A brooding and heady nose of fresh blackberry, red plum, boysenberry, river mint, graphite, toasted spice, and worn leather. The palate begins with a cloud of silky (but not heavy) fruit, supported by refreshing acidity, long tannins, and sinewy texture. The balance is impeccable, creating a wine that is delicious and open on release, but has potential for long cellaring.

Production size: 700 Cases

Scores: 97 Points, The Real Review (AUS); 96 Points, James Halliday (AUS); 94 Points, Gary Walsh (AUS)