“An attention-grabbing blend highlighting all the strengths of two classic grapes: tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon. Ripe blue, red and black berries mesh beautifully with dried rosemary, earth, red licorice and vanillin oak. So smooth it glides across the tongue. Tannins are just so, spice is heady, the effect is stunningly memorable.”

2025 Halliday Wine Companion – Gold – Rating 96

Released August 2024

A cool and European season produced perfumed and finely structured wineswith excellent aging potential. The 2021 harvest was two-three weeks later than ‘usual’ and the crop enjoyed the benefits of long, slow ripening without extreme temperatures. The distinct diurnal range of the sub-alpine Mayford vineyard in Porepunkah provides ideal conditions for ripening Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, the two heroes of this unique blend, with Malbec in a minor, yet major role, adding aromatic precision and fresh minerality.

WINEMAKING & TASTING NOTES

Small parcels of low-cropping Tempranillo were hand-picked from the ridge of the oldest Tempranillo block in mid-March, and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec some three weeks later. Each batch was chilled and cold soaked before undergoing natural yeast fermentation in small open fermenters, then basket pressed, just prior to dryness, to finish fermentation and MLF in oak.

Nominally allocated at pressing for the Ovens Crossing blend, these components were put to French oak barriques- 50% new – for 11 months and then blended and returned to older oak for a further 13 months. A further 18 months of bottle maturation allowed the oak, fruit and tannins to weave their way into balance for a late winter 2024 release.

Deeply scented with dark, exotic fruits- cassis and black berries- freshened with violet floral notes and spice box- a heady mix of sandlewood, anise, dried rosemaryand cloves.  A truly gorgeous wine- dark, brooding, layered and delicious.  With depth but also lightness, complexity as well as freshness, rippling with fine tannins, bursting with fragrance and all in perfect pitch.

Drink 2024-2039

Bottled February 2023

Mayford Ovens Crossing is made in limited volumes from exceptional vintages.