Australia’s pre-eminent wine authority and critic, James Halliday, has awarded Ashbrook Estate a five red star rating, an accolade afforded to only Australia’s top 8% of wineries. He describes the meaning of his five red star rating as “Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two wines rated at 94 points or above, and have had a five-star rating for the previous two years.”
Halliday says: “This estate is one of the quietest and highest achievers in Australia, maintaining excellent viticulture and fastidious winemaking.”
Established by the Devitt family in 1975, Ashbrook produced its first commercial wine (Riesling) in 1979 and its 30th vintage in 2008. Only grapes handpicked and grown on the Estate are used and all processing, winemaking, bottling and packaging are closely controlled using the Estate’s own state of the art facilities.
Vineyard
Extensive use of the sophisticated “lyre” trellising system in the vineyard maximizes flavour potential and allows Ashbrook to produce only a premium label for each grape variety. All vineyard management techniques, including the application of composted mulch, are focused on the sustainable maintenance of excellent vine health. All grape picking and all vine pruning are carried out by hand.
Margaret River is regarded as the premier region in Australia for Bordeaux blends as typified by Ashbrook’s blend of approximately 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Two years in French Oak and two years’ bottle maturation produce classical wines of elegance, intensity and opulence. Complex, elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Two years in top quality French oak barriques and further bottle maturation have produced a wine of great style and character.
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WINERY RATING |
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| James Halliday, |
Australian Wine Companion 2010 |
