Description
Established in 1963 by Doctor Max Lake, Lake’s Folly was the first new vineyard in the Hunter Valley last century.
In early 2000 Lake’s Folly was purchased by Peter and Lee Fogarty and family who, along with Hunter-born and bred winemaker, Rodney Kempe, have continued to maintain the integrity and direction of this significant vineyard.
There is an old saying that the wine is made in the vineyard (good fruit makes good wine).
Most of the Lakes Folly Cabernet vines are now more than 50 years old.
This means that over the years, the vines have ‘self-regulated’.
This natural low cropping gives the grapes better consistency of flavour.
The terroir, which is a rare combination of volcanic hill, alluvial creek flat and south-easterly aspect, is ideal for the production of fine wines.
The vines are pruned heavily for low production high quality fruit, and trellised with vertical shoot positioning, which gives more reliable flavour even in difficult years.
Maintaining a true ‘estate’ philosophy allows Lakes Folly to fully express the terroir of this particular site.
Crop levels are also critical in achieving complexity.
Needless to say, growing all their own fruit at the Folly enables them to be super diligent in achieving these goals, the weather having the last say on the fruit intensity for a particular year.
With the old vines, low crop levels, and good canopy management, we are consistently presented with above average fruit.
Throw in some traditional winemaking, French oak and you have a unique distinguished single site wine.
Their two flagship wines, a Cabernet blend and a Chardonnay, are made in limited quantities and are grown, vintaged, and made on the estate.
The wine styles are restrained and elegant, showing finesse and complexity.
They have clarity of structure and great length of flavour.
Lake’s Folly Cabernets is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Shiraz made from low-yielding, estate-grown, hand-picked fruit.
The fruit is open-fermented producing softer, more subtle tannins, and then transferred to large format casks for six months for settling, and then into small French oak barriques (new, one-year-old and two-year-old) for approximately one year before bottling.
Excellent long-term cellaring potential of up to 20 years, depending on the vintage.
Excellent, fresh clean berry fruits burst onto the palate; it is smooth and seamless with just a touch of clean acidity that will ensure this wine lives for a good two decades.
Soft tannins with a great length of flavour and persistence.
“This is a wine built on acidity and length, it’s earthen, chocolatey, silken profile drawing long and delicious in your mouth.
I love it” – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Cabernet Blend Country – Australia Region – Hunter Valley, New South Wales Vintage – 2005 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13.5%
