De Bortoli Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
De Bortoli Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a premium red wine produced from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon in Dixons Creek, Yarra Valley, Victoria. The name "Melba" pays tribute to famed Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba.[31]
The wine is only produced in exceptional vintages, with production years including 2012, 2015, and 2017.[32] Vines were first planted in 1971, with subsequent additions in 1987, 1988, and 1990.[33]
The 2018 vintage was described as "bright, deep red with purple edges," offering aromas of dense mineral-scented blackcurrant, cedar wood, and tobacco. It was noted for its intensity, persistence, silky texture, and beautifully balanced tannins, with flavors of ripe blackberry, smoke, cedarwood, cocoa, red currants, cassis, and subtle spices forming a gentle finish.[34]
In the Halliday Wine Companion 2023 review of the 2019 edition, reviewer Philip Rich awarded 96 points, describing it as a medium-deep cherry red with aromas of cassis, black plum, olive tapenade, and cigar box. He praised its rich, structured fruit and fine tannins, noting its potential for long-term cellaring.[35]
History
During Darren De Bortoli's years at Roseworthy Agricultural College, Australia's premier winemaking institute, a lot of development work was being done on Botrytis wine styles. While there, De Bortoli decided to make botrytis-affected wine of his own. At that time (1982) there was a surplus of Semillon grapes, a thin-skinned, tight-bunched varietal particularly susceptible to extensive, uniform botrytis infection. The resulting wine went on to win numerous awards including Best Botrytis Wine at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 1984.[4]
