When Hilde and Ian (Duke) Ranson sold their clothing manufacturing business in 1998, they were able to fulfil a long-held dream of establishing a vineyard in the Porongurup subregion of Great Southern with the acquisition of a 65ha farm at the foot of the Porongurup Range. They planted shiraz and cabernet sauvignon and riesling. Hilde, a successful artist, designed the beautiful, scalloped, glasswalled cellar door sales area, with its mountain blue cladding. The appointment of Rob Diletti as winemaker will, if it were possible, increase the quality of the wines.

The same vinification as its Reserve sibling, except that the French oak was mainly used. Deeply coloured; a striking, full-bodied cabernet, striking because, despite its weight and concentration, it is still immaculately balanced with classic cabernet tannins in play, and exactly measured. Drink to: 2034; Price: $26.00; Date Tasted: Jan 2016; Alcohol: 13.6%; Rating: 95 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion