Leconfield Lonicera Merlot Cabernet Franc 2023 750ml

“Juicy Coonawarra red with plum, mulberry, blueberry, violets and soft fine tannins.”

Leconfield Lonicera Merlot Cabernet Franc 2023 is a bright, supple Coonawarra red with plenty of juicy fruit and a softer, more immediately approachable feel than the region’s more structured Cabernet styles.

Plum, mulberry and blueberry lead the way, with violets, crushed leaves, cedar and gentle spice underneath. The palate is medium bodied and smooth, with soft fine tannins and enough freshness to keep the wine lively from start to finish. Huon Hooke gave the 2023 91 points, praising its lifted aromatics, sweet fruit and easy drinking character.

This blend gives you a different side of Coonawarra. Rather than big tannins and long cellaring, Lonicera is all about perfume, juicy fruit and immediate drinkability. It is a really useful bottle if you want something polished and savoury that does not need years in the cellar before it starts behaving itself.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Blueberry, mulberry, violets, crushed leaves, cedar and gentle spice.

Palate: Medium bodied with juicy plum and red fruit, soft fine tannins and a smooth, supple texture.

Finish: Fresh and balanced with lingering berry fruit, cedar and a gentle savoury edge.

Halliday Wine Companion - 94 Points

Made in a medium-bodied, dry-red style, this blends merlot and cabernet franc into a perfumed concoction of plum, quince paste and candied cherries. While the plushness of merlot sits comfortably in the middle palate, this is astonishingly crunchy and fine. Harvested in the cool of the night, the ripe red fruit and sandy, powdery tannins are spot on. Acidity pulls and stretches out the edges. If you are after a pretty but graceful red wine, then this is a welcome treat. Impressive at the price. Shanteh Wale

About The Winery

Leconfield is one of Coonawarra’s established family owned producers, with a long history of making classic regional reds from the area’s famous terra rossa soils.

Lonicera sits on the more approachable side of the range, bringing together Merlot and Cabernet Franc in a softer, more fragrant style. Merlot gives the wine its plum, mulberry and supple texture, while Cabernet Franc adds perfume, leafy freshness and savoury detail.

The 2023 was also awarded a Bronze Medal at the 2024 Limestone Coast Wine Show, reinforcing its quality as a polished regional red blend.

Cellaring Potential

Leconfield Lonicera Merlot Cabernet Franc 2023 is drinking very well now, with its fruit and tannins already nicely settled.

Recommended drinking window

Now to 2029

Collector’s Note

The 2023 received 91 points from Huon Hooke at The Real Review and a Bronze Medal at the 2024 Limestone Coast Wine Show.

Details

Producer: Leconfield
Range: Lonicera
Vintage: 2023
Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Region: Coonawarra, South Australia
Bottle Size: 750ml
Wine Style: Juicy Coonawarra Red Blend
Wine Sweetness: Dry
Wine Body: Medium bodied
ABV: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Winemaker: Paul Gordon