95 Points - Philip Rich
Dominique Portet was established following 10 consecutive generations of winemaking in the Portet family, stretching back to the 18th century. Dominique went to start his own dream and established Taltarni in 1976 then later Clover Hill in north-east Tasmania. Dominique Portet is now one of the Yarra Valley's leading wineries, with their 'Fontaine' range of wines consistently delivering high quality at very reasonable prices.
The 2024 Dominique Portet Fontaine Cabernets is another soft and medium-bodied Yarra Valley red made up of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc. An excellent edition of this perennially good and well-priced wine, this offers plenty of plum and berry fruit flavours supported by lively fresh acidity and restrained oak. A lovely drinking red ideal for enjoying in the short to medium term, this is a relative bargain at this price.
"95 Points. A blend of 60/29/6/5% cabernet sauvignon/ merlot/ malbec/ cabernet franc. Matured in 15% French oak. An excellent edition of this perennially good and well-priced wine. A deep, bright crimson purple. Explodes from the glass with ripe blackcurrant fruit, violets and a hint of cedar. Medium bodied, with excellent verve and silky (for cabernet) long-chained tannins. Great now and over the next four to six years. One of the Yarra's absolutely best buys. Drink: 2025 - 2032. 13.5% alc. Screwcap"- Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion.
