3 Drops Cabernets Great Southern 2021

Awards

95 Points – Wine Companion (James Halliday)
“A blend of 80/20% Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc picked six weeks apart, which left no choice but to separate fermentation and maturation… The colour is superb… Juicy overtones of cassis… Normally a blend of similar Bordeaux reds doesn’t enhance the wine as much as it does (say) with Shiraz and Viognier.”

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep red with vibrant hues.
Aromatics: Blackcurrants and raspberries, layered with tobacco leaf and cedary French oak. 
Palate: Rich and generous entry with vibrant berry characters, framed by tobacco leaf and French oak. Mid-weighted, with well-integrated tannins offering balance and savouriness. Finishes round and long. 

Winemaker’s Note

“The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were harvested separately, fermented in closed fermenters with 2-3 pump overs daily for 16 days, then matured in French oak for 15 months to build complexity while preserving cool-climate freshness.”

Viticulture & Winemaking

🔹 Region: Wragg Road Vineyard, Mount Barker / Great Southern, WA 
🔹 Varietal: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon · 20% Cabernet Franc
🔹 Alcohol: 14.0% Alc/Vol · pH 3.55 · T.A. 6.0 g/L 
🔹 Harvest Dates: Cabernet Franc 24 March 2021; Cabernet Sauvignon 6 April 2021 
🔹 Maturation: 15 months in French oak (23% new) 
🔹 Production: Machine harvested fruit, destemmed and crushed into closed fermenter, fermented with pump-overs for 16 days then pressed and barreled.

Sustainability & Vineyard Practices 

3 Drops is committed to cool-climate viticulture in the Great Southern, producing wines that reflect site and variety with minimal intervention. Their Wragg Road Vineyard is farmed to express structural purity, elegance and regional identity.

Storage & Serving Tips 

🔹 Serving Temperature: 16–18 °C – ideal to unlock aromatics and soften structure.
🔹 Decanting: 30-45 mins recommended for full aromatic development.
🔹 Cellaring Potential: Drink now for richness or cellar through to ~2030 for evolving nuance.

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

🔹 Grass-fed beef fillet with redcurrant jus – highlights cassis and tannin structure.
🔹 Vegetarian cassoulet with earthy beans and mushrooms – complements savoury notes.
🔹 Aged Gouda or Comté – balances richness with fine tannin grip.
🔹 Char-grilled portobello mushrooms with herbed butter – a vegan pairing matching the wine’s complexity.

FAQ Wine Terms 🧐

❓ Why blend Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc?
Cabernet Sauvignon provides backbone and dark fruit intensity, while Cabernet Franc adds aromatic lift, spice and mid-palate refinement – together they create greater harmony than either alone.
❓ What is “cool-climate” Cabernet like in the Great Southern?
Compared to warmer regions, cooler vintage sites yield cabernet with higher natural acidity, refined tannin, lifted perfume and more savoury detail rather than overt power.
❓ What does “23% new oak” signify?
Only a portion of the barrels are new, ensuring oak influence is present but not dominant – preserving fruit purity and regional character.