Cabernet Sauvignon is king here but Chardonnay is a powerful queen. There are five blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon. The oldest (3 acres) was planted in 1973 on gravelly loam soil on a south facing slope. In 1975 they planted two further plots; one on gravel/loam soil near the top of our south facing slope below the Cabernet Franc (1 acre), and the other on heavy loam soil on a south facing slope below the ‘old’ Malbec plot (1 acre). In 1985 a further plot (2 acres) was planted on light gravelly loam below a Chardonnay plot. The flagship Cabernet only comes from the ‘old’ blocks.

The ‘young’ plot of Cabernet Sauvignon (10 acres) was planted in 1998 on a north-east facing slope. The soil in this plot is mostly heavy gravel loam, with sandy loam on the top half acre. This plot produces very ripe rich Cabernet fruit which makes its way into the Cabernet Merlot. The best ferment from this plot is blended into the older vines to add vitality and freshness to the ‘Margaret'.