Knappstein Enterprise Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep purply red in colour. The bouquet brings aromas fragrant red fruit, olive leaf and spice, earthiness and fine, slightly vegetal ripeness here, with plenty of class French oak. The palate has immaculate black fruit, with a slightly pastille quality. Grippy, with tight tannins and vibrant juicy acidity. Finesse and balance on the finish.

Tim Knappstein joined the Stanley Wine Company in 1969, working his apprenticeship for a company who was a significant player in Clare during this time. However, in the mid-1970s he left SWC and created Tim Knappstein Wines, locating his winery in what was once the Enterprise Brewery at the northern end of the Clare town. Built in 1878, the brewery’s primary purpose was to quench the thirst of local miners. The building went through various charges, having renamed the Clare Brewery in 1905. That went out of business in 1917 after semi-prohibition laws restricted opening hours for the sale of alcohol. After the war, it became the home of Clare Mineral Waters, before the Knappstein family took over the property in 1976 and initially christening it the Clare Enterprise Winery. Today it is simply known as the Knappstein Enterprise Winery. Tim Knappstein was instrumental during that period in establishing the Clare Valley as one of Australia’s premium wine growing regions, not only with the quality of his Riesling, but with his Cabernet Sauvignon too. Since then, it would be fair to say that the winery has passed through various hands over the years, including a period under the ownership of Wolf Blass, however each subsequent proprietor has elected to maintain and respect the Knappstein name.