A special limited release of age-worthy Cabernet sourced from one of the Alpine Valleys’ oldest vineyards.

Released April 2023

I have known Kay and Allan Souter, the current owners of the old ‘Rosewhite Vineyard’, since 2004, when I borrowed a bit of winemaking equipment and in return, made some wine for them. Established in 1982, it is a modest little plot, just five acres on a well-drained north-facing site with granitic soils. The vineyard has small volumes of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Shiraz but it is the Cabernet Sauvignon that has always stood apart for me. The Souter’s winemaking venture has been secondary to their Melbourne-based professional lives, but for close to twenty years they have quietly produced small volumes of lovely wine under their eponymous wine label.  

Recently, Allan and Kay decided that retirement from professional life should also extend to their winemaking ventures and in 2021, a cool and mild season, a parcel of slow ripened Rosewhite Cabernet came my way.  It was an opportunity too good to be missed.

This small parcel of Cabernet was hand harvested in perfect condition in the second week April. It was chilled, crushed and cold soaked prior to natural ferment in an open pot with ex

tensive hand plunging. At the conclusion of ferment, it was basket pressed and matured in French barriques (30% new) for eleven months, retaining malo lees for texture and complexity.

The 2021 Mayford ‘Rosewhite’ Cabernet Sauvignon is perfumed, balanced and ageworthy. Fragrant with notes of violet, cassis, plush dark fruits and cocoa, the palate is full bodied and supple with sinewy varietal tannins. 

Drink 2023 – 2040.

Bottled February 2022

Bottled under screwcap.