Jauma Ujo Cabernet Franc 2019

The UJO — short for Unidentified Jauma Object — is a whole-bunch Cabernet Franc-led blend from James Erskine's McLaren Vale sources. The 2019 is made up of 80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Chenin Blanc, and 10% Shiraz rosé, all farmed organically and vinified with zero additions: no sulphur, no fining agents, no filtration. It is sealed under crown cap.

Lighter in structure than Jauma's single-vineyard Birdsey Cab Franc, the UJO reads as a purple-fruited, briary, high-acid red built for early drinking. The whole-bunch fermentation with native yeasts adds a leafy, stalky tension that runs through the finish. Chenin contributes texture and the Shiraz rosé component keeps the colour bright and the body nimble.

McLaren Vale's diverse soils — ironstone, sandy loam, and ancient Maslin Sand formations — and its Mediterranean climate, moderated by Gulf St Vincent sea breezes and cool air off the Mt Lofty Ranges, underpin the freshness that defines this wine. Erskine picks early by regional standards to preserve acidity and keep alcohol restrained.

Serve lightly chilled. Best within a few years of vintage given the zero-sulphur winemaking approach.