Australia’s oldest family owned winery, Yalumba will launch a wine that has been 168 years in the making – The Caley Coonawarra & Barossa Cabernet & Shiraz.

“The Caley is the pinnacle of a long winemaking journey seeking excellence – a ‘super-claret’ that rightfully honors one of Yalumba’s most adventurous sons,” vigneron Robert Hill-Smith said.

“It is the result of an unwavering commitment by Yalumba to Australia’s own unique red wine style – Cabernet & Shiraz – from the Galway Clarets of the 1940s, through the Signature and FDR 1A that started in the 60s and 70s and The Reserve that was created in the 1990s.

“I see it as a symbol of Yalumba’s perseverance and patience – an acknowledgment of the importance of time in crafting great wine.”

Sourced from Yalumba’s own Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon estates in Coonawarra and two old vine Shiraz vineyards in Barossa (Yalumba’s Horseshoe vineyard and the Burgermeister Linke Block), The Caley is structured for longevity.

“The Caley brings together the linear elegance, firm tannins and persistent acid structure of Coonawarra Cabernet with the voluptuous, textural richness of Barossa Shiraz,” Robert said.

“I felt that given our long history in the making of this quirky blend of Cabernet and Shiraz, a Coonawarra-Barossa creation may yet become our ultimate achievement.

“Our very Australian-ness is captured in the pragmatism of so many of Australia’s early wines – lyrical creations that were about the wine, not the rules – and The Caley is such a wine.

“It is a great example of our rich wine culture of experimentation and a willingness to give it a go.” said Robert.

The wine has been named in honor of Fred Caley Smith, grandson of Yalumba’s founder Samuel Smith. Fred was a horticulturist who had a profound impact on the development of Yalumba’s orchards and vineyards.

He is best remembered for an 18-month ground-breaking research journey that he undertook in 1893 and 1894 to the USA, UK, Europe, the Middle East, Sri Lanka and India.

The 29-year-old’s detailed and poignant letters to his father, sent home every few days were collected and kept in the Yalumba archive. Over subsequent generations, they have provided inspiration and encouragement for the winery’s outward looking international handshake.

“Australian wine is at an exciting time in its evolution,” Robert said. “It can use an authentic story of aspiration, struggle, and persistence. The Caley is that story – of a long journey that is a long way from over.”

Yalumba

Established in 1849, Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery, led by 5th generation proprietor, Robert Hill-Smith. A fiercely independent fine wine producer.

Read More at source: Wine Industry Advisor