RESERVE CABERNET

Grapes for the Noon Reserve Cabernet have been sourced from the Borrett family vineyards in Langhorne Creek since the first Reserve Cabernet in 1996. We love making and drinking Cabernet, the international benchmark for red wines. The Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks are on deep alluvial soil, with enough clay to retain good moisture and in a site cool enough to ensure slow ripening and high flavour development in the grapes. Noon Reserve Cabernet is a riper style than many, displaying blackberry fruit with full body and is complex and well structured for cellaring. For further information on individual vintages and how they are currently drinking please click on the “Tasting Notes” tab. Note that there was no 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 or 2017 Reserve Cabernet produced due to seasonal conditions. ﷯ Food matching suggestions Lamb and Cabernet is a proven and classic match. Roast leg or rack of lamb with lots of rosemary and garlic and roasted vegetables is an ideal accompaniment to our Reserve Cabernet, especially the older vintages. In fact just about anything roasted is lovely…….a small roast chicken wrapped in pancetta or stuffed with herbs under the skin would be perfect. A good roast vegetable frittata also works very well. It is worth decanting this wine half an hour prior to serving as aeration will help express the aromas and flavours. Varietal composition 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. Winemaking It’s a great time in the winery for us when the Cabernet comes in! Harvesting this late-ripening variety means the vintage is drawing to a close and the distinctive and powerful aroma of the Cabernet in ferment always brings a smile. Fortunately we are also physically fit by then and strong enough to handle the thick cap of skins which Cabernet produces. Constant hand plunging throughout the fermentation is used to assist with colour and tannin extraction. After the end of ferment, the wine is pressed using our manual basket presses. Maturation takes place in French oak barriques (225l barrels) for 18 months. Approximately 35% new barrels are used. The wine is crushed, fermented, matured and bottled on the property. Average Production 500 – 700 dozen. Older vineyards reflect the seasons more clearly and production can vary significantly, especially in years affected by drought. The Vineyard The Fruit Trees Cabernet vineyard was planted on deep alluvial clay loam soils on the Bremer River flood plain at Langhorne Creek by our friends the Borrett family in 1972. The Main Road block is about 500 metres away, on an even more clay dominant soil, planted in 1999. When we began making wine from these vines it was love at first sight (smell and taste) and each vintage we are still delighted when we receive the Cabernet fruit. Yields are 1 to 3 tons/acre (with significant vintage variation in the size of the crop). The vines always produce small, flavoursome berries with a blue-black appearance and healthy bloom; they are beautiful looking grapes.

Vintages Produced: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, (no 2017 produced), 2016, 2015, 2014, (no 2013 produced-released as 'twelve hundred hours' cabernet - see below), 2012, (no 2011 or 2010 produced), 2009, (no 2008 produced), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, (no 2001 produced), 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 ______________________________ 2022 Reserve Cabernet Produced from100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks grown by the Borrett family at Langhorne Creek. This is another very successful vintage for the Reserve Cabernet, with beautiful late autumn weather leading to ripe grapes in perfect condition at harvest. I love the bell clear Cabernet fruit aroma of this wine, it's so intense and pure. The palate is splendidly full bodied and mouth filling, without being heavy at all. Actually it somehow manages to feel rather elegant, despite the depth and complexity of flavour present. Plenty of nice firm tannin adds length and suggests a long cellaring life ahead if desired. Drink now-2035. 2021 Reserve Cabernet I love Langhorne Creek Cabernet. There's a clarity of varietal expression combined with a rounded texture which makes it as natural as an old friend. The 2021 vintage is a beauty. The gentle growing season suited the Cabernet very well and produced a wine with bell clear fruit. Serve it in a big tulip-shaped glass so you can appreciate the aroma as fully as possible. There's impressive depth of flavour and a long, clean finish with firm tannins. Enjoy at any time from now until 2035. 2020 Reserve Cabernet Produced from the Borrett Fruit Trees (90%) and Main Road (10%) blocks at Langhorne Creek. The 2020 Reserve Cabernet displays classic Cabernet aromas of sweet black currants and cedar. It possesses wonderful depth of flavour. There are lovely firm tannins providing balance to the generosity as well as a long finish. Like many of our reds, this wine has the body and structure to be able to drink it over several days after opening. Sometimes I think it looks even better on the second night and I expect it will mature very nicely if you wish to cellar it too. Another very successful Cabernet vintage. 2019 Reserve Cabernet Possibly our best Reserve Cabernet to date. Produced from 66% Fruit Trees block and 34% Main Road block Cabernet Sauvignon. After a warm start to harvest in 2019, the weather cooled down from early March and the Cabernet ripened slowly to perfection in the lovely autumn days which followed. Harvested on April 3 (Fruit Trees) and 17 (Main Road). Beautifully fresh varietal flavours and great tannin structure. I love this wine. 2018 Reserve Cabernet After missing out last year, we were delighted to have the Reserve Cabernet back again. Produced from equal parts Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks at Langhorne Creek, the production was smaller than usual but the mild dry conditions which prevailed in early autumn 2018 were ideal for ripening the Cabernet to perfection. The resulting wine is packed with varietal flavour. Full bodied and pure, with abundant ripe tannin for balance, this is a delicious wine to drink now or cellar for the long term. A somewhat firmer wine than usual. (2017 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced This was a cooler, wetter growing season and whilst we were lucky with the earlier ripening Shiraz which benefitted from some late season warmth in March, the rains returned in mid-April before the Cabernet was ready and the fruit began to deteriorate, so we decided not to harvest the crop. This was a difficult decision but quality must always come first. 2016 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Main Road (56%) and Fruit Trees (44%) blocks in Langhorne Creek. It offers up plenty of fresh red berry and cedar/tobacco aromas. The palate is full bodied without being heavy, with a very open personality and a lovely soft texture. The long finish features some nice tannin grip for balance. This is a particularly pure tasting and attractive Reserve Cabernet which can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years if you prefer. 2015 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Main Road (86%) and Fruit Trees (14%) blocks. Very small crop this year. The wine has attractive sweet red berry and cedar aromas, along with earthy/mineral notes. The palate delivers on this promise, with full body and lovely purity of flavour. It is a composed and well balanced wine, almost suave in texture. There is some nice firm tannin which makes its presence felt on the long finish and aftertaste. Good to drink now with a char-grilled steak or can be cellared for 10 years+. Appears to be very successful. 2014 Reserve Cabernet From a larger than average, late Cabernet harvest in Langhorne Creek, producing soft, early maturing wines. Produced entirely from the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees block. Light to medium red in colour, with a brick hue. Very attractive to smell, with red berries and cedar predominant, along with blackcurrants, nougat, sweet forest floor and truffles. Improves with time in the glass. Soft in texture, with a lovely balance and finesse. Hard to resist drinking now or can be cellared through until 2022+ (may be surprisingly long lived for such an approachable young wine thanks to the excellent balance and the screw cap seal). 2013 Twelve Hundred Hours Cabernet We decided not to release the 2013 wine from the Fruit Trees block under the Reserve Cabernet label as this is so delicious for drinking right now! Nice new art label from Rae too. The wine is quite similar in style to the 2012 Reserve Cabernet, with sweet blackcurrant and cedar aromas and a lovely soft texture. This vintage does not possess the tannin structure necessary to sustain the wine for years in the cellar and so we recommend drinking from now to 2018. ﷯ 2012 Reserve Cabernet This is the first vintage to be released under screw cap. The colour is medium deep and shows some maturity. Lovely pure nose, with ripe forest berries predominant along with a touch of mint, smoke and herbs (green tea). Very rounded texture, with fresh acidity providing good balance. Not heavy. A touch of alcohol warmth on the finish. Very attractive. Quite elegant in style. Now starting to develop nicely. Best now to 2020+ (2011 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2011 Reserve Cabernet. After many years of drought and excessively hot weather affecting life and the size and quality of the grape harvests in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in much of south east Australia, the pendulum finally swung the other way in 2011. A little too far the other way. The challenges and dramas of vintage 2011 were caused by cool, excessively wet weather through the growing season…from one extreme to the other. (2010 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2010 Reserve Cabernet due to the tiny crop on the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees vineyard this season. Reserve Cabernet vintages from 2009 to 2002 are now fully mature but most will still be drinking well, depending partly on a good cork and good cellaring. 2009 Reserve Cabernet From a drought year with a small crop. Very deep in colour. Nice nose, right from the first sniff, displaying open, youthful and attractive red currant and spice. Has a hugely flavoursome palate, carrying considerable weight that is kept in good balance by fresh acidity and surprisingly savoury tannins on the long finish. A big wine that is also quite fresh and lively. An impressive, very full bodied red. Optimum drinking time: maturing slowly; best now to 2025 (2008 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we did not produce a 2008 Reserve Cabernet due to the difficult heatwave conditions experienced during the 2008 vintage. For further information on the 2008 harvest, please click on the “Vintages” button above. 2007 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 15 June 2015 Very small crop in 2007; limited to one bottle/customer on release. Medium-deep in colour, with some brick in the hue indicating development. The nose displays youthful strawberry and blueberry fruit along with some mature cedar/cigar box aromas and an overlying mintiness which is often present in warm vintages (we think this is largely due to the Eucalyptus trees alongside this block). The palate is full bodied and densely flavoured, with fresh acidity and firm tannin providing a solid framework. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2006 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 13 July 2014 Very deep colour. Ripe fresh berries along with a little cedar, spice and earth from bottle age. Smells good. The palate is quite full bodied and full flavoured, retaining good balance from fresh acidity. Freshness and a certain elegance are 2006 vintage hallmarks which this wine displays well. Looking good. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2005 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25 April 2016 Beautiful cork (it seems we had lots of good corks in 2005) Quite deep red colour, with a touch of brick to the hue. A lovely nose, with clear Cabernet berries and mint, along with a little cedar development. Very full bodied and generously flavoured. Plush ripe texture, with good balance provided by fresh acidity. A lovely big wine. Fully reflects the perfect condition of the fruit and high ripeness levels of this very good vintage. Shows only a trace of alcohol warmth on the finish. Maturing relatively slowly. Impressive. Optimum drinking time: now to 2025 2004 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 28 January 2015 Tasting note: Deep colour, with only a little development showing. Attractive maturing cedar/tobacco aromas, along with red and black berries, earth, tar and spice. Nice complexity. Generously flavoured. Full bodied, with fresh acidity. The tannins have taken on a rounded texture on the long finish. Travelling well. Optimum drinking time: now until 2020+ 2003 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Deep in colour and still youthful looking (there is less brick in the hue than the 2005 tasted alongside). A slightly subdued nose, with a hint of reduction indicating that decanting may be beneficial. Quite tight in structure, the tannins firm, even a little hard on the finish. There is nice flesh and sweetness of fruit to balance the bones. A more shy, reserved wine (particularly compared to the exuberance of the 2005) that is drinking well now. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020 2002 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014. Tasting note: Very deep in colour. Complex and intriguing to smell - this wine's aroma opens up in the glass (use big glasses and give it time after pouring to enjoy the journey). Red and black berries, along with fresh earth, molasses, black pepper, mint, char-grilled steak (really!) and cloves. Big, ripe and complex flavours. Huge palate presence, with bright acidity and a very long finish. Impressive depth. One of our favourite Reserve Cabernet vintages, now in its prime. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ Vintages from 2001 to 1996 are now fully mature or slightly over-mature, depending on the vintage and the bottle. A lot depends on the cork and the cellaring conditions. At this age the chances of a good bottle becomes something of a lottery. 2001 Cabernet Cleanskin (no 2001 Reserve Cabernet was produced) The 2001 vintage saw the Fruit Tree Cabernet Block yield quite a large crop and at bottling time we felt the wine lacked the necessary density of flavour for Reserve status so we decided to declassify the wine and sell it as a cleanskin (that is without a label) to our domestic mailing list customers. Last tasted: July 2011. Tasting note: There is a deep colour to this wine and it now shows some brick red hues indicating development. A lovely perfume greets you as you put your nose to the glass reminiscent of cassis, violets, roses and coffee along with hints of earth and spice. On the palate it is nice and clean and quite fresh but lacks the depth that we look for in Reserve Cabernet, hence the declassification. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2015. 2000 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014 This bottle (from our cellar) is still displaying a good fill level and cork. The colour is deep, with some brick hue indicating maturity. Attractive to smell, with minty raspberries, fresh earth and spices, along with some cedar and tobacco from bottle age. There is good depth to the palate, which is still fresh in flavour, with medium body, refreshing acidity and a nice balance and harmony. Not a big wine but a nicely weighted Cabernet, now fully mature. A good result from a more tricky vintage. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2020 if well cellared and with a good cork. 1999 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 This bottle had a cork that was in pretty good condition for the age. Medium deep colour, with remarkably little brick hue development. Attractive, mature nose with cedar, charcoal and clove along with blackberries. Quite fresh. Not a big wine. More elegant and long rather than round in shape. The structure is quite tight, the tannins still firm - a feature of the 1999 wines from the beginning. Fully mature now. At this age, speaks more of the vintage than the variety. Optimum drinking time: now to 2019 1998 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork that had adhered slightly to the bottle making it hard to budge. Very deep colour with only a little development. Impressive looking. Mature cedar and charcoal aroma, with some fruity molasses and a hint of flowers (violets). Nice. This is still a big, toned, muscular wine. Deep in flavour with balancing acidity. Now fully mature but holding well. Optimum drinking time: now to 2018 1997 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Fragile cork which broke on extraction but showing little travel. Medium deep colour with a pronounced tawny brown hue. Looks old. The nose is fairly dull and appears over-mature. Big and soft on the palate, almost thick textured. Lacks freshness. Drinkable but now past its best. (opened 3 bottles in case the advanced maturity was cork dependant but all looked similar although that doesn't rule out that there may still be good bottles of this wine) Optimum drinking time: Passed 1996 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork with very limited travel. The colour is not deep and has a pronounced brick hue. Looks fully mature. Delicate, mature aroma but still with some life, displaying hints of mint and flowers. Similar mature flavours, with a delicate, elegant structure. Fragile but still going and quite impressive at age 20. Optimum drinking time: now - this wine is in the twilight of its life.

Grapes for the Noon Reserve Cabernet have been sourced from the Borrett family vineyards in Langhorne Creek since the first Reserve Cabernet in 1996. We love making and drinking Cabernet, the international benchmark for red wines. The Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks are on deep alluvial soil, with enough clay to retain good moisture and in a site cool enough to ensure slow ripening and high flavour development in the grapes. Noon Reserve Cabernet is a riper style than many, displaying blackberry fruit with full body and is complex and well structured for cellaring. For further information on individual vintages and how they are currently drinking please click on the “Tasting Notes” tab. Note that there was no 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 or 2017 Reserve Cabernet produced due to seasonal conditions. ﷯ Food matching suggestions Lamb and Cabernet is a proven and classic match. Roast leg or rack of lamb with lots of rosemary and garlic and roasted vegetables is an ideal accompaniment to our Reserve Cabernet, especially the older vintages. In fact just about anything roasted is lovely…….a small roast chicken wrapped in pancetta or stuffed with herbs under the skin would be perfect. A good roast vegetable frittata also works very well. It is worth decanting this wine half an hour prior to serving as aeration will help express the aromas and flavours. Varietal composition 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. Winemaking It’s a great time in the winery for us when the Cabernet comes in! Harvesting this late-ripening variety means the vintage is drawing to a close and the distinctive and powerful aroma of the Cabernet in ferment always brings a smile. Fortunately we are also physically fit by then and strong enough to handle the thick cap of skins which Cabernet produces. Constant hand plunging throughout the fermentation is used to assist with colour and tannin extraction. After the end of ferment, the wine is pressed using our manual basket presses. Maturation takes place in French oak barriques (225l barrels) for 18 months. Approximately 35% new barrels are used. The wine is crushed, fermented, matured and bottled on the property. Average Production 500 – 700 dozen. Older vineyards reflect the seasons more clearly and production can vary significantly, especially in years affected by drought. The Vineyard The Fruit Trees Cabernet vineyard was planted on deep alluvial clay loam soils on the Bremer River flood plain at Langhorne Creek by our friends the Borrett family in 1972. The Main Road block is about 500 metres away, on an even more clay dominant soil, planted in 1999. When we began making wine from these vines it was love at first sight (smell and taste) and each vintage we are still delighted when we receive the Cabernet fruit. Yields are 1 to 3 tons/acre (with significant vintage variation in the size of the crop). The vines always produce small, flavoursome berries with a blue-black appearance and healthy bloom; they are beautiful looking grapes.

Vintages Produced: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, (no 2017 produced), 2016, 2015, 2014, (no 2013 produced-released as 'twelve hundred hours' cabernet - see below), 2012, (no 2011 or 2010 produced), 2009, (no 2008 produced), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, (no 2001 produced), 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 ______________________________ 2022 Reserve Cabernet Produced from100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks grown by the Borrett family at Langhorne Creek. This is another very successful vintage for the Reserve Cabernet, with beautiful late autumn weather leading to ripe grapes in perfect condition at harvest. I love the bell clear Cabernet fruit aroma of this wine, it's so intense and pure. The palate is splendidly full bodied and mouth filling, without being heavy at all. Actually it somehow manages to feel rather elegant, despite the depth and complexity of flavour present. Plenty of nice firm tannin adds length and suggests a long cellaring life ahead if desired. Drink now-2035. 2021 Reserve Cabernet I love Langhorne Creek Cabernet. There's a clarity of varietal expression combined with a rounded texture which makes it as natural as an old friend. The 2021 vintage is a beauty. The gentle growing season suited the Cabernet very well and produced a wine with bell clear fruit. Serve it in a big tulip-shaped glass so you can appreciate the aroma as fully as possible. There's impressive depth of flavour and a long, clean finish with firm tannins. Enjoy at any time from now until 2035. 2020 Reserve Cabernet Produced from the Borrett Fruit Trees (90%) and Main Road (10%) blocks at Langhorne Creek. The 2020 Reserve Cabernet displays classic Cabernet aromas of sweet black currants and cedar. It possesses wonderful depth of flavour. There are lovely firm tannins providing balance to the generosity as well as a long finish. Like many of our reds, this wine has the body and structure to be able to drink it over several days after opening. Sometimes I think it looks even better on the second night and I expect it will mature very nicely if you wish to cellar it too. Another very successful Cabernet vintage. 2019 Reserve Cabernet Possibly our best Reserve Cabernet to date. Produced from 66% Fruit Trees block and 34% Main Road block Cabernet Sauvignon. After a warm start to harvest in 2019, the weather cooled down from early March and the Cabernet ripened slowly to perfection in the lovely autumn days which followed. Harvested on April 3 (Fruit Trees) and 17 (Main Road). Beautifully fresh varietal flavours and great tannin structure. I love this wine. 2018 Reserve Cabernet After missing out last year, we were delighted to have the Reserve Cabernet back again. Produced from equal parts Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks at Langhorne Creek, the production was smaller than usual but the mild dry conditions which prevailed in early autumn 2018 were ideal for ripening the Cabernet to perfection. The resulting wine is packed with varietal flavour. Full bodied and pure, with abundant ripe tannin for balance, this is a delicious wine to drink now or cellar for the long term. A somewhat firmer wine than usual. (2017 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced This was a cooler, wetter growing season and whilst we were lucky with the earlier ripening Shiraz which benefitted from some late season warmth in March, the rains returned in mid-April before the Cabernet was ready and the fruit began to deteriorate, so we decided not to harvest the crop. This was a difficult decision but quality must always come first. 2016 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Main Road (56%) and Fruit Trees (44%) blocks in Langhorne Creek. It offers up plenty of fresh red berry and cedar/tobacco aromas. The palate is full bodied without being heavy, with a very open personality and a lovely soft texture. The long finish features some nice tannin grip for balance. This is a particularly pure tasting and attractive Reserve Cabernet which can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years if you prefer. 2015 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Main Road (86%) and Fruit Trees (14%) blocks. Very small crop this year. The wine has attractive sweet red berry and cedar aromas, along with earthy/mineral notes. The palate delivers on this promise, with full body and lovely purity of flavour. It is a composed and well balanced wine, almost suave in texture. There is some nice firm tannin which makes its presence felt on the long finish and aftertaste. Good to drink now with a char-grilled steak or can be cellared for 10 years+. Appears to be very successful. 2014 Reserve Cabernet From a larger than average, late Cabernet harvest in Langhorne Creek, producing soft, early maturing wines. Produced entirely from the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees block. Light to medium red in colour, with a brick hue. Very attractive to smell, with red berries and cedar predominant, along with blackcurrants, nougat, sweet forest floor and truffles. Improves with time in the glass. Soft in texture, with a lovely balance and finesse. Hard to resist drinking now or can be cellared through until 2022+ (may be surprisingly long lived for such an approachable young wine thanks to the excellent balance and the screw cap seal). 2013 Twelve Hundred Hours Cabernet We decided not to release the 2013 wine from the Fruit Trees block under the Reserve Cabernet label as this is so delicious for drinking right now! Nice new art label from Rae too. The wine is quite similar in style to the 2012 Reserve Cabernet, with sweet blackcurrant and cedar aromas and a lovely soft texture. This vintage does not possess the tannin structure necessary to sustain the wine for years in the cellar and so we recommend drinking from now to 2018. ﷯ 2012 Reserve Cabernet This is the first vintage to be released under screw cap. The colour is medium deep and shows some maturity. Lovely pure nose, with ripe forest berries predominant along with a touch of mint, smoke and herbs (green tea). Very rounded texture, with fresh acidity providing good balance. Not heavy. A touch of alcohol warmth on the finish. Very attractive. Quite elegant in style. Now starting to develop nicely. Best now to 2020+ (2011 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2011 Reserve Cabernet. After many years of drought and excessively hot weather affecting life and the size and quality of the grape harvests in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in much of south east Australia, the pendulum finally swung the other way in 2011. A little too far the other way. The challenges and dramas of vintage 2011 were caused by cool, excessively wet weather through the growing season…from one extreme to the other. (2010 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2010 Reserve Cabernet due to the tiny crop on the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees vineyard this season. Reserve Cabernet vintages from 2009 to 2002 are now fully mature but most will still be drinking well, depending partly on a good cork and good cellaring. 2009 Reserve Cabernet From a drought year with a small crop. Very deep in colour. Nice nose, right from the first sniff, displaying open, youthful and attractive red currant and spice. Has a hugely flavoursome palate, carrying considerable weight that is kept in good balance by fresh acidity and surprisingly savoury tannins on the long finish. A big wine that is also quite fresh and lively. An impressive, very full bodied red. Optimum drinking time: maturing slowly; best now to 2025 (2008 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we did not produce a 2008 Reserve Cabernet due to the difficult heatwave conditions experienced during the 2008 vintage. For further information on the 2008 harvest, please click on the “Vintages” button above. 2007 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 15 June 2015 Very small crop in 2007; limited to one bottle/customer on release. Medium-deep in colour, with some brick in the hue indicating development. The nose displays youthful strawberry and blueberry fruit along with some mature cedar/cigar box aromas and an overlying mintiness which is often present in warm vintages (we think this is largely due to the Eucalyptus trees alongside this block). The palate is full bodied and densely flavoured, with fresh acidity and firm tannin providing a solid framework. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2006 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 13 July 2014 Very deep colour. Ripe fresh berries along with a little cedar, spice and earth from bottle age. Smells good. The palate is quite full bodied and full flavoured, retaining good balance from fresh acidity. Freshness and a certain elegance are 2006 vintage hallmarks which this wine displays well. Looking good. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2005 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25 April 2016 Beautiful cork (it seems we had lots of good corks in 2005) Quite deep red colour, with a touch of brick to the hue. A lovely nose, with clear Cabernet berries and mint, along with a little cedar development. Very full bodied and generously flavoured. Plush ripe texture, with good balance provided by fresh acidity. A lovely big wine. Fully reflects the perfect condition of the fruit and high ripeness levels of this very good vintage. Shows only a trace of alcohol warmth on the finish. Maturing relatively slowly. Impressive. Optimum drinking time: now to 2025 2004 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 28 January 2015 Tasting note: Deep colour, with only a little development showing. Attractive maturing cedar/tobacco aromas, along with red and black berries, earth, tar and spice. Nice complexity. Generously flavoured. Full bodied, with fresh acidity. The tannins have taken on a rounded texture on the long finish. Travelling well. Optimum drinking time: now until 2020+ 2003 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Deep in colour and still youthful looking (there is less brick in the hue than the 2005 tasted alongside). A slightly subdued nose, with a hint of reduction indicating that decanting may be beneficial. Quite tight in structure, the tannins firm, even a little hard on the finish. There is nice flesh and sweetness of fruit to balance the bones. A more shy, reserved wine (particularly compared to the exuberance of the 2005) that is drinking well now. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020 2002 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014. Tasting note: Very deep in colour. Complex and intriguing to smell - this wine's aroma opens up in the glass (use big glasses and give it time after pouring to enjoy the journey). Red and black berries, along with fresh earth, molasses, black pepper, mint, char-grilled steak (really!) and cloves. Big, ripe and complex flavours. Huge palate presence, with bright acidity and a very long finish. Impressive depth. One of our favourite Reserve Cabernet vintages, now in its prime. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ Vintages from 2001 to 1996 are now fully mature or slightly over-mature, depending on the vintage and the bottle. A lot depends on the cork and the cellaring conditions. At this age the chances of a good bottle becomes something of a lottery. 2001 Cabernet Cleanskin (no 2001 Reserve Cabernet was produced) The 2001 vintage saw the Fruit Tree Cabernet Block yield quite a large crop and at bottling time we felt the wine lacked the necessary density of flavour for Reserve status so we decided to declassify the wine and sell it as a cleanskin (that is without a label) to our domestic mailing list customers. Last tasted: July 2011. Tasting note: There is a deep colour to this wine and it now shows some brick red hues indicating development. A lovely perfume greets you as you put your nose to the glass reminiscent of cassis, violets, roses and coffee along with hints of earth and spice. On the palate it is nice and clean and quite fresh but lacks the depth that we look for in Reserve Cabernet, hence the declassification. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2015. 2000 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014 This bottle (from our cellar) is still displaying a good fill level and cork. The colour is deep, with some brick hue indicating maturity. Attractive to smell, with minty raspberries, fresh earth and spices, along with some cedar and tobacco from bottle age. There is good depth to the palate, which is still fresh in flavour, with medium body, refreshing acidity and a nice balance and harmony. Not a big wine but a nicely weighted Cabernet, now fully mature. A good result from a more tricky vintage. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2020 if well cellared and with a good cork. 1999 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 This bottle had a cork that was in pretty good condition for the age. Medium deep colour, with remarkably little brick hue development. Attractive, mature nose with cedar, charcoal and clove along with blackberries. Quite fresh. Not a big wine. More elegant and long rather than round in shape. The structure is quite tight, the tannins still firm - a feature of the 1999 wines from the beginning. Fully mature now. At this age, speaks more of the vintage than the variety. Optimum drinking time: now to 2019 1998 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork that had adhered slightly to the bottle making it hard to budge. Very deep colour with only a little development. Impressive looking. Mature cedar and charcoal aroma, with some fruity molasses and a hint of flowers (violets). Nice. This is still a big, toned, muscular wine. Deep in flavour with balancing acidity. Now fully mature but holding well. Optimum drinking time: now to 2018 1997 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Fragile cork which broke on extraction but showing little travel. Medium deep colour with a pronounced tawny brown hue. Looks old. The nose is fairly dull and appears over-mature. Big and soft on the palate, almost thick textured. Lacks freshness. Drinkable but now past its best. (opened 3 bottles in case the advanced maturity was cork dependant but all looked similar although that doesn't rule out that there may still be good bottles of this wine) Optimum drinking time: Passed 1996 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork with very limited travel. The colour is not deep and has a pronounced brick hue. Looks fully mature. Delicate, mature aroma but still with some life, displaying hints of mint and flowers. Similar mature flavours, with a delicate, elegant structure. Fragile but still going and quite impressive at age 20. Optimum drinking time: now - this wine is in the twilight of its life.

Grapes for the Noon Reserve Cabernet have been sourced from the Borrett family vineyards in Langhorne Creek since the first Reserve Cabernet in 1996. We love making and drinking Cabernet, the international benchmark for red wines. The Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks are on deep alluvial soil, with enough clay to retain good moisture and in a site cool enough to ensure slow ripening and high flavour development in the grapes. Noon Reserve Cabernet is a riper style than many, displaying blackberry fruit with full body and is complex and well structured for cellaring. For further information on individual vintages and how they are currently drinking please click on the “Tasting Notes” tab. Note that there was no 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 or 2017 Reserve Cabernet produced due to seasonal conditions. ﷯ Food matching suggestions Lamb and Cabernet is a proven and classic match. Roast leg or rack of lamb with lots of rosemary and garlic and roasted vegetables is an ideal accompaniment to our Reserve Cabernet, especially the older vintages. In fact just about anything roasted is lovely…….a small roast chicken wrapped in pancetta or stuffed with herbs under the skin would be perfect. A good roast vegetable frittata also works very well. It is worth decanting this wine half an hour prior to serving as aeration will help express the aromas and flavours. Varietal composition 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. Winemaking It’s a great time in the winery for us when the Cabernet comes in! Harvesting this late-ripening variety means the vintage is drawing to a close and the distinctive and powerful aroma of the Cabernet in ferment always brings a smile. Fortunately we are also physically fit by then and strong enough to handle the thick cap of skins which Cabernet produces. Constant hand plunging throughout the fermentation is used to assist with colour and tannin extraction. After the end of ferment, the wine is pressed using our manual basket presses. Maturation takes place in French oak barriques (225l barrels) for 18 months. Approximately 35% new barrels are used. The wine is crushed, fermented, matured and bottled on the property. Average Production 500 – 700 dozen. Older vineyards reflect the seasons more clearly and production can vary significantly, especially in years affected by drought. The Vineyard The Fruit Trees Cabernet vineyard was planted on deep alluvial clay loam soils on the Bremer River flood plain at Langhorne Creek by our friends the Borrett family in 1972. The Main Road block is about 500 metres away, on an even more clay dominant soil, planted in 1999. When we began making wine from these vines it was love at first sight (smell and taste) and each vintage we are still delighted when we receive the Cabernet fruit. Yields are 1 to 3 tons/acre (with significant vintage variation in the size of the crop). The vines always produce small, flavoursome berries with a blue-black appearance and healthy bloom; they are beautiful looking grapes.

Vintages Produced: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, (no 2017 produced), 2016, 2015, 2014, (no 2013 produced-released as 'twelve hundred hours' cabernet - see below), 2012, (no 2011 or 2010 produced), 2009, (no 2008 produced), 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, (no 2001 produced), 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 ______________________________ 2022 Reserve Cabernet Produced from100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks grown by the Borrett family at Langhorne Creek. This is another very successful vintage for the Reserve Cabernet, with beautiful late autumn weather leading to ripe grapes in perfect condition at harvest. I love the bell clear Cabernet fruit aroma of this wine, it's so intense and pure. The palate is splendidly full bodied and mouth filling, without being heavy at all. Actually it somehow manages to feel rather elegant, despite the depth and complexity of flavour present. Plenty of nice firm tannin adds length and suggests a long cellaring life ahead if desired. Drink now-2035. 2021 Reserve Cabernet I love Langhorne Creek Cabernet. There's a clarity of varietal expression combined with a rounded texture which makes it as natural as an old friend. The 2021 vintage is a beauty. The gentle growing season suited the Cabernet very well and produced a wine with bell clear fruit. Serve it in a big tulip-shaped glass so you can appreciate the aroma as fully as possible. There's impressive depth of flavour and a long, clean finish with firm tannins. Enjoy at any time from now until 2035. 2020 Reserve Cabernet Produced from the Borrett Fruit Trees (90%) and Main Road (10%) blocks at Langhorne Creek. The 2020 Reserve Cabernet displays classic Cabernet aromas of sweet black currants and cedar. It possesses wonderful depth of flavour. There are lovely firm tannins providing balance to the generosity as well as a long finish. Like many of our reds, this wine has the body and structure to be able to drink it over several days after opening. Sometimes I think it looks even better on the second night and I expect it will mature very nicely if you wish to cellar it too. Another very successful Cabernet vintage. 2019 Reserve Cabernet Possibly our best Reserve Cabernet to date. Produced from 66% Fruit Trees block and 34% Main Road block Cabernet Sauvignon. After a warm start to harvest in 2019, the weather cooled down from early March and the Cabernet ripened slowly to perfection in the lovely autumn days which followed. Harvested on April 3 (Fruit Trees) and 17 (Main Road). Beautifully fresh varietal flavours and great tannin structure. I love this wine. 2018 Reserve Cabernet After missing out last year, we were delighted to have the Reserve Cabernet back again. Produced from equal parts Fruit Trees and Main Road blocks at Langhorne Creek, the production was smaller than usual but the mild dry conditions which prevailed in early autumn 2018 were ideal for ripening the Cabernet to perfection. The resulting wine is packed with varietal flavour. Full bodied and pure, with abundant ripe tannin for balance, this is a delicious wine to drink now or cellar for the long term. A somewhat firmer wine than usual. (2017 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced This was a cooler, wetter growing season and whilst we were lucky with the earlier ripening Shiraz which benefitted from some late season warmth in March, the rains returned in mid-April before the Cabernet was ready and the fruit began to deteriorate, so we decided not to harvest the crop. This was a difficult decision but quality must always come first. 2016 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Main Road (56%) and Fruit Trees (44%) blocks in Langhorne Creek. It offers up plenty of fresh red berry and cedar/tobacco aromas. The palate is full bodied without being heavy, with a very open personality and a lovely soft texture. The long finish features some nice tannin grip for balance. This is a particularly pure tasting and attractive Reserve Cabernet which can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years if you prefer. 2015 Reserve Cabernet Produced from 100% Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Main Road (86%) and Fruit Trees (14%) blocks. Very small crop this year. The wine has attractive sweet red berry and cedar aromas, along with earthy/mineral notes. The palate delivers on this promise, with full body and lovely purity of flavour. It is a composed and well balanced wine, almost suave in texture. There is some nice firm tannin which makes its presence felt on the long finish and aftertaste. Good to drink now with a char-grilled steak or can be cellared for 10 years+. Appears to be very successful. 2014 Reserve Cabernet From a larger than average, late Cabernet harvest in Langhorne Creek, producing soft, early maturing wines. Produced entirely from the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees block. Light to medium red in colour, with a brick hue. Very attractive to smell, with red berries and cedar predominant, along with blackcurrants, nougat, sweet forest floor and truffles. Improves with time in the glass. Soft in texture, with a lovely balance and finesse. Hard to resist drinking now or can be cellared through until 2022+ (may be surprisingly long lived for such an approachable young wine thanks to the excellent balance and the screw cap seal). 2013 Twelve Hundred Hours Cabernet We decided not to release the 2013 wine from the Fruit Trees block under the Reserve Cabernet label as this is so delicious for drinking right now! Nice new art label from Rae too. The wine is quite similar in style to the 2012 Reserve Cabernet, with sweet blackcurrant and cedar aromas and a lovely soft texture. This vintage does not possess the tannin structure necessary to sustain the wine for years in the cellar and so we recommend drinking from now to 2018. ﷯ 2012 Reserve Cabernet This is the first vintage to be released under screw cap. The colour is medium deep and shows some maturity. Lovely pure nose, with ripe forest berries predominant along with a touch of mint, smoke and herbs (green tea). Very rounded texture, with fresh acidity providing good balance. Not heavy. A touch of alcohol warmth on the finish. Very attractive. Quite elegant in style. Now starting to develop nicely. Best now to 2020+ (2011 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2011 Reserve Cabernet. After many years of drought and excessively hot weather affecting life and the size and quality of the grape harvests in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in much of south east Australia, the pendulum finally swung the other way in 2011. A little too far the other way. The challenges and dramas of vintage 2011 were caused by cool, excessively wet weather through the growing season…from one extreme to the other. (2010 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we were not able to produce a 2010 Reserve Cabernet due to the tiny crop on the 1.2 hectare Fruit Trees vineyard this season. Reserve Cabernet vintages from 2009 to 2002 are now fully mature but most will still be drinking well, depending partly on a good cork and good cellaring. 2009 Reserve Cabernet From a drought year with a small crop. Very deep in colour. Nice nose, right from the first sniff, displaying open, youthful and attractive red currant and spice. Has a hugely flavoursome palate, carrying considerable weight that is kept in good balance by fresh acidity and surprisingly savoury tannins on the long finish. A big wine that is also quite fresh and lively. An impressive, very full bodied red. Optimum drinking time: maturing slowly; best now to 2025 (2008 Reserve Cabernet)-not produced Unfortunately we did not produce a 2008 Reserve Cabernet due to the difficult heatwave conditions experienced during the 2008 vintage. For further information on the 2008 harvest, please click on the “Vintages” button above. 2007 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 15 June 2015 Very small crop in 2007; limited to one bottle/customer on release. Medium-deep in colour, with some brick in the hue indicating development. The nose displays youthful strawberry and blueberry fruit along with some mature cedar/cigar box aromas and an overlying mintiness which is often present in warm vintages (we think this is largely due to the Eucalyptus trees alongside this block). The palate is full bodied and densely flavoured, with fresh acidity and firm tannin providing a solid framework. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2006 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 13 July 2014 Very deep colour. Ripe fresh berries along with a little cedar, spice and earth from bottle age. Smells good. The palate is quite full bodied and full flavoured, retaining good balance from fresh acidity. Freshness and a certain elegance are 2006 vintage hallmarks which this wine displays well. Looking good. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ 2005 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25 April 2016 Beautiful cork (it seems we had lots of good corks in 2005) Quite deep red colour, with a touch of brick to the hue. A lovely nose, with clear Cabernet berries and mint, along with a little cedar development. Very full bodied and generously flavoured. Plush ripe texture, with good balance provided by fresh acidity. A lovely big wine. Fully reflects the perfect condition of the fruit and high ripeness levels of this very good vintage. Shows only a trace of alcohol warmth on the finish. Maturing relatively slowly. Impressive. Optimum drinking time: now to 2025 2004 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 28 January 2015 Tasting note: Deep colour, with only a little development showing. Attractive maturing cedar/tobacco aromas, along with red and black berries, earth, tar and spice. Nice complexity. Generously flavoured. Full bodied, with fresh acidity. The tannins have taken on a rounded texture on the long finish. Travelling well. Optimum drinking time: now until 2020+ 2003 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Deep in colour and still youthful looking (there is less brick in the hue than the 2005 tasted alongside). A slightly subdued nose, with a hint of reduction indicating that decanting may be beneficial. Quite tight in structure, the tannins firm, even a little hard on the finish. There is nice flesh and sweetness of fruit to balance the bones. A more shy, reserved wine (particularly compared to the exuberance of the 2005) that is drinking well now. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020 2002 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014. Tasting note: Very deep in colour. Complex and intriguing to smell - this wine's aroma opens up in the glass (use big glasses and give it time after pouring to enjoy the journey). Red and black berries, along with fresh earth, molasses, black pepper, mint, char-grilled steak (really!) and cloves. Big, ripe and complex flavours. Huge palate presence, with bright acidity and a very long finish. Impressive depth. One of our favourite Reserve Cabernet vintages, now in its prime. Optimum drinking time: now to 2020+ Vintages from 2001 to 1996 are now fully mature or slightly over-mature, depending on the vintage and the bottle. A lot depends on the cork and the cellaring conditions. At this age the chances of a good bottle becomes something of a lottery. 2001 Cabernet Cleanskin (no 2001 Reserve Cabernet was produced) The 2001 vintage saw the Fruit Tree Cabernet Block yield quite a large crop and at bottling time we felt the wine lacked the necessary density of flavour for Reserve status so we decided to declassify the wine and sell it as a cleanskin (that is without a label) to our domestic mailing list customers. Last tasted: July 2011. Tasting note: There is a deep colour to this wine and it now shows some brick red hues indicating development. A lovely perfume greets you as you put your nose to the glass reminiscent of cassis, violets, roses and coffee along with hints of earth and spice. On the palate it is nice and clean and quite fresh but lacks the depth that we look for in Reserve Cabernet, hence the declassification. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2015. 2000 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 25th of October 2014 This bottle (from our cellar) is still displaying a good fill level and cork. The colour is deep, with some brick hue indicating maturity. Attractive to smell, with minty raspberries, fresh earth and spices, along with some cedar and tobacco from bottle age. There is good depth to the palate, which is still fresh in flavour, with medium body, refreshing acidity and a nice balance and harmony. Not a big wine but a nicely weighted Cabernet, now fully mature. A good result from a more tricky vintage. Optimum drinking time: Now to 2020 if well cellared and with a good cork. 1999 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 This bottle had a cork that was in pretty good condition for the age. Medium deep colour, with remarkably little brick hue development. Attractive, mature nose with cedar, charcoal and clove along with blackberries. Quite fresh. Not a big wine. More elegant and long rather than round in shape. The structure is quite tight, the tannins still firm - a feature of the 1999 wines from the beginning. Fully mature now. At this age, speaks more of the vintage than the variety. Optimum drinking time: now to 2019 1998 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork that had adhered slightly to the bottle making it hard to budge. Very deep colour with only a little development. Impressive looking. Mature cedar and charcoal aroma, with some fruity molasses and a hint of flowers (violets). Nice. This is still a big, toned, muscular wine. Deep in flavour with balancing acidity. Now fully mature but holding well. Optimum drinking time: now to 2018 1997 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Fragile cork which broke on extraction but showing little travel. Medium deep colour with a pronounced tawny brown hue. Looks old. The nose is fairly dull and appears over-mature. Big and soft on the palate, almost thick textured. Lacks freshness. Drinkable but now past its best. (opened 3 bottles in case the advanced maturity was cork dependant but all looked similar although that doesn't rule out that there may still be good bottles of this wine) Optimum drinking time: Passed 1996 Reserve Cabernet Last tasted: 27 September 2015 Good cork with very limited travel. The colour is not deep and has a pronounced brick hue. Looks fully mature. Delicate, mature aroma but still with some life, displaying hints of mint and flowers. Similar mature flavours, with a delicate, elegant structure. Fragile but still going and quite impressive at age 20. Optimum drinking time: now - this wine is in the twilight of its life.