Chalkers Crossing Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Style: Red Wine
Closure: Screwcap
Chalkers Crossing Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Pick up
Burke Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
Producer: Chalkers Crossing
Country: Australia
Region: Hilltops
Vintage: 2006
Critic Score: 93
Alcohol: 14.5%
Size: 750 ml
Drink by: Now
Chalkers Crossing is located 5km south of Young in the Hilltops Region in Southern New South Wales. The 10ha Rockleigh Vineyard, previously a neglected plum orchard, was planted to Riesling, Semillon, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in late 1977.
"Chalkers Crossing winemaker, Celine Rousseau, is one of the gems of Australian winemaking." Campbell Mattinson
French winemaker Celine Rousseau, who studied in Paris and trained in Bordeaux, came to the Hilltops Region in 2000 for the first Chalkers Crossing vintage. In 2012 she was appointed general manager as well as winemaker.
Expert reviews
"Blueberry and violet aromas; rich, yet strict mouthfeel, with many flavours coruscating to the finale; very tannic, but should show well with time. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Drink Now - 2018." James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 93 points
About the winery
Rockleigh Vineyard, just 5km south of Young in the Hilltops Region in Southern New South Wales, was a neglected plum orchard when Chalkers Crossing acquired it. The orchard was converted to a modern 10ha vineyard in late 1997 with the planting of Riesling, Semillon, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The first crop from these vines was harvested in early 2000.
Kylmorn Vineyard, 7 km south of Young in the Hilltops Region, was purchased at a later date. It is a 17ha sustainably managed vineyard planted in 2002 with Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
The combination of fertile soils, reliable rainfall and a Mediterranean continental climate makes the Hilltops Region ideal for growing premium quality grapes for wine production.
To complement its Hilltops range of wines, Chalkers Crossing buys grapes from the cool climate Tumbarumba Region of southern New South Wales to make Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. All Chalkers Crossing wines are made at its winery just north of Young.
Winemaker Celine Rousseau was born in France, studied in Paris and trained in Bordeaux. She gained experience in Bordeaux, Champagne, St Emilion and Languedoc in France, and in the Margaret River and Perth Hills in Western Australia before coming to the Hilltops Region in 2000 for the first Chalkers Crossing vintage. Her exceptional skills were recognised when she won the Qantas Young Winemaker of the Year in 2002. In 2012 she was appointed general manager as well as winemaker.
New South Wales
New South Wales is home to more than 500 wineries across 16 wine regions that produce a range of extremely diverse wines. The regions are Canberra District, Cowra, Gundagai, Hastings River, Hilltops, Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Murray Darling, New England, Orange, Perricoota, Riverina, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven Coast, Swan Hill and Tumbarumba.
Hunter Valley is New South Wales' best known wine region and has long stolen much of the spotlight . It is also Australia’s oldest continuous wine region - the first vineyard at Wyndham Estate was established in 1828 using cuttings supplied by viticulturist James Busby, widely considered the father of Australian wine. Semillon is perhaps the most iconic wine of the Hunter Valley and is among the greatest and most distinctive wines of Australia - if not the world.
New South Wales' wine regions have a wide range of microclimates. The Great Dividing Range has a substantial influence on the climate of many of the viticultural areas. The regions of higher elevation, such as Canberra District, Canberra District, Orange and Tumbarumba have cooler climates with more continental influences. These regions are responsible for some of the State's most enticing chardonnay, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, riesling and sauvignon blanc. They, together with the Hunter Valley, which by contrast, is very warm, with high humidity and a large amount of rainfall during the growing and harvest season, produce the bulk of the high quality wine in New South Wales.