Named after the picker’s hut at the front of the property, the Hut Block vineyards are planted on sand and black clay loam soils over a substructure of clay. The intensity in the fruit can be attributed to these soils, while the mild maritime climate of McLaren Vale, in which cool evening and night breezes from the gully winds moderate the day time temperatures, suits this variety. The emphasis is on low yielding vines that are pruned and trained to allow dappled light to reach the fruit zone to slow ripening and enhance aroma and flavour. Grapes are harvested throughout the cool of the night, vinified and matured in a combination of new and seasoned French and American oak barrels for twenty months. Approx 14.0%

Richard Hamilton retains the most outstanding estate vineyards, some of great age, all fully mature. The vines at Hut Block on McMurtrie Road are amongst the oldest in McLaren Vale. Cabernet Sauvignon with a small addition of Cabernet Franc are sourced from four vineyard blocks to the south of the McLaren Vale township. The oldest of the vines, planted in 1968, provide the backbone. Some barrel fermentation has been used to enhance the aroma of the wine. The philosophy being to augment, rather than dominate, the fruit with oak

Deep full vibrant red colour. Ripe fragrant cassis nose with attractive scented vanilla and coffee overtones arising from integrated oak. Long bright elegantly structured palate showing persistent varietal fruit and fine grained tannins. A blissful accompaniement to venison, chunky ragu pasta or beef wellington. "The nose is big, exuding distinct Cabernet characters, cassis and currant, mints and fig, scents of black fruits, bay leaf and new violin. A totally integrated palate supported by garrulous, crunchy tannins and suave, smartly dressed oak!" -Winegun.com, "Amenable acids and tenacious tannins within a covenant of complaisant Malibu oak and congealed cherry/ brambleberry/ carob extracts!" -CabernetFrank.com