Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 2011
Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 2011
95 Points – James Halliday Wine Companion
GOLD Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2014
For information regarding previous vintages please contact the winery on info@foresterestate.com.au
Tasting Notes
| Vintage |
2011 |
| Vintage | 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot |
| Oak maturation | 20 months – 50% new and 50% 3 year old French oak barriques |
| Alcohol | 13.5% Alc/Vol |
| Release date | June 2017 |
| Colour |
Deep red with red-purple hue |
| Aroma |
Concentrated and complex with cocoa, currant, cassis, bay leaf and dusty gravel. There is an underlying violet perfume, which is all wrapped up in savoury-cedar oak. |
| Palate | Medium bodied with a long and seamless palate. There are ample fine grain tannins, which gently coat the mouth and will help to age the wine gracefully. Again, the palate shows a good balance between fruit and complex characters, with cassis, mulberry and currants well integrated with bay leaf, cocoa and dusty gravel. A concentrated and complex wine that will gain further complexity with age. |
| Food matches | This wine suits the classics. Try with matured hard cheeses, rosemary infused lamb or rare beef fillet steak. |
| Palate | Drinking well upon release but has the potential to evolve and impress towards 2024. |
Winemaker Comments
Viticulture
Fruit sourced to make the Yelverton is grown with absolute attention to detail. Identification of soil boundaries within blocks is the first step in selecting potentially superior fruit. Close monitoring and analysis of these vines leads to shoot or bunch thinning by hand if required to obtain the perfect balance for good exposure and healthy ripening. A philosophy of minimal inputs in these premium blocks allows the unique combination of variety, soil type and microclimate to shine through and produce a parcel of fruit with true character. The 2011 vintage was warm and dry producing elegant flavour profiles and fine long tannin definition in the skins.
Winemaking
Our Forester Yelverton Cabernet Sauvignon parcels are gently crushed to small open fermenters and receive a slight “drain-off’ of free run juice to increase the skin to juice ratio. This helps intensify the flavour, aroma and body of the wine without altering the underlying unique vineyard qualities present. A slow temperature controlled ferment is employed with daily draining away of fermenting juice under gravity and pumping back over the skins to assist in the extraction. Heading down boards keep the ‘cap’ of skins submerged beneath the cool fermenting wine to avoid excessive heat which we believe leads to a more refined wine. The ideal skin contact time in fermenter varies from one vintage to the next with the 2011 Cabernet spending an average 30 days in contact with skins before pressing out. This was also the same for the Cabernet Franc used in the blend. The best parcels are aged in fine grained French oak barriques for 20 months with careful blending of the Yelverton taking place approximately three months prior to bottling.
Storage / Bottling
The 2011 Yelverton was bottled in February of 2013 to premium claret glass with a stevlin closure. Stored in our temperature controlled cellar for four years prior to release this wine is drinking exceptionally well now and with prudent storage should continue to show well towards 2024.
Awards & Achievements
James Halliday Wine Companion
2014 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 95 Points
2012 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 95 Points
2011 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 95 Points
2009 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 94 Points
2008 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 94 Points
2007 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 96 Points
2005 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 92 Points
2004 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 91 Points
2001 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 94 Points
2000 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet 92 Points
2011 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
GOLD – Margaret River Wine Show 2014
94/100 – Ray Jordan 2017 WA Wine Guide
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2013
Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge 2013
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2014
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2013
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
2009 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013
Commended – International Wine Challenge 2013
Gold Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2012
Silver Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA Mount Barker 2013
Silver Medal – Qantas Mount Barker Wine Show 2011
93 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014
4 Stars – Winestate March/April 2014
“Leafy varietal aromas showing a nice line of licorice characters. Delicate leafy palate is a touch warm, with some supple tannins.”
93 Points – Ray Jordan Wine Guide 2014
“Such a powerful statement of cabernet here. Hits with a wave of concentrated black fruits splashed liberally with a decent hit of cedary oak. The palate is massively deep and intense. Ripe firm tannins, substantial oak and lots of dark fruit. Yet it all comes together in a powerful statement of this variety.”
93 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, May 2014
“Named after Henry John Yelverton, a pioneer of the Margaret River region – long before wine entered the area. Trademark notes of eucalypt but a wine of length and finesse. This drinks well now but it’s a monty for the cellar. Slippery smooth blackcurrant and mulberry with spicy oak and eucalypt. Fine ripple pf tannin. Quite lovely.”
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Adelaide Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Qantas Mount Barker Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2012
Bronze Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2012
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Rutherglen Wine Show 2010
2008 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Silver Outstanding – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2013
94 Points – Wine Showcase Magazine Winter 2013
3 1/2 Stars – Winestate Tasting July/August Edition 2013
3 1/2 Stars – Winestate Tasting May Edition 2012
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2012
Silver Medal – Royal Sydney Wine Show 2013
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2012
Bronze Medal – Qantas Mount Barker Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Royal Perth Wine Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2012
Bronze Medal – Australian small Winemakers Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2010
2007 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Silver Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2011
Silver Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2010
Best of the Best Wines – Australian Wine Companion 2011
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Fair Hong Kong 2011
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show 2010
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2010
2006 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
No Yelverton Reserve Cabernet made
2005 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Comp 2010
Bronze Medal – National Wine Show of Australia 2010
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge 2011
96/100 – Tim White, The Australian Financial Review
95/100 – Ray Jordan 2011 WA Wine Guide
Bronze Medal – Scoop Magazine Autumn 2010
4 1/2 Stars, Winestate Best of the West Tasting 2010
2004 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
5 Stars, Huon Hooke: Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine October 2009
4 1/2 Stars, Winestate Magazine 2010
92 Points, Ray Jordan: WA Wine Guide 2010
89 Points, Gary Walsh: The Wine Front
Silver Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2009
Silver Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Australian Small Winemakers Show 2009
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Comp 2009
Bronze Medal – Sydney Royal Wine Show 2009
Bronze Medal – Qantas Wine Show of WA 2008
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2008
Bronze Medal – Cowra Wine Show 2008
2003 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
No Yelverton Reserve Cabernet made
2002 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Bronze Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2007
2001 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Gold Medal – Vintage Cellars National Wine Show of Australia (Highest pointed wine of the show)
5 Stars, Ralph Kyte-Powell August 2007
Silver Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2006
Silver Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2007
Bronze Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2006
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2002
2000 Yelverton Reserve Cabernet
Gold Medal – Perth Royal Wine Show 2005
Bronze Medal – Margaret River Wine Show 2004
