The Islander Estate Vineyards, The Investigator, 2019, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Region Kangaroo Island Country Australia Type Red Grape Cabernet Franc Style Structured, savoury, elegant. ABV 14% Closure Screwcap Method Sustainable Bordeaux heritage, Kangaroo Island character and four years in the making. Jacques Lurton travelled halfway around the world to make a wine like this. Fortunately, you only have to open the bottle. About the wine What happens when a Bordeaux winemaker takes one of France's most distinguished grapes to a remote Australian island? The investigator is a rather impressive answer. Behind this exceptional Cabernet Franc is Jacques Lurton, a French winemaker with Bordeaux in his blood and a taste for adventure. Born into one of France's great winemaking families, Jacques spent decades travelling the world before discovering Kangaroo Island, where the cool maritime climate offered the perfect opportunity to do something different. Cabernet Franc has long played an important role in Bordeaux's finest blends, but Jacques wanted to see what the grape could achieve on its own. The Investigator is his answer, made from estate-grown fruit and given all the time and attention it deserves. The grapes are hand-picked, carefully sorted and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak. Then comes two years in new French oak barrels, followed by another two years resting in bottle before release. Four years of patience, and there's still plenty of life ahead. Tasting notes Dark plums, raspberries and wild strawberries, with intriguing notes of roasted beetroot, fennel, dried herbs and crushed gravel. Rich and beautifully structured, with silky fruit, firm tannins and a savoury, spicy finish. Powerful, certainly, but with the elegance that makes Cabernet Franc so special. Food Pairing Suggestions This is a bottle worth planning a meal around. Think slow-braised beef cheeks, roast duck, a beautifully cooked ribeye or lamb with rosemary. Mushroom and truffle risotto would be equally impressive, while a generous cheese board makes a very good excuse to open another glass. About the winemaker In 2000 Jacques Lurton planted an 11 ha vineyard near Parndana in Kangaroo Island's heartland and christened the estate 'The Islander'. Close planting to restrict yields and increase concentration, fermentation in concrete tanks and old-fashioned basket pressing, plus quality fine-grained French oak, all combine to produce wines with great structure and longevity.