In 2012 we released our first 100% Cabernet Sauvignon – from the 2009 vintage. The fruit comes from Kiona Vineyards which was planted in 1975 on Red Mountain. We also get Cab from another block planted in 1992. I used to tell people that our wine is a blend of new and old vines – 1975 and 1992. When Scott Williams, owner of Kiona Vineyards, heard me say this, he told me to stop referring to the 1992 planting as young vines – they are old by WA standards. I’ve since stopped.

I love what we do with this wine. It’s a pure expression of Cabernet from Red Mountain. When Billo and I fell in love with wine it was Cabernet, notably of Napa and Left Bank Bordeaux. It is intertwined with our wine journey. When coming up with a name for this wine, I wanted to evoke this sentiment.

When thinking about this, I started to think about my daughter, who was 10 years old at the time. Whenever I’d say “I love you” to her, she always replied “Plus One.” It comes from a game we used to play when she was younger:

Pinto: I love you

Karly: I love you plus 1000

Pinto: I love you 1000 plus one

Karly: I love you plus 10,000

Pinto: I love you 10,000 plus one

Karly: I love you plus infinity

Pinto: I love you infinity plus one

I thought about this. I thought about our wine journey. I thought about Cabernet Sauvignon. And I thought Plus One is a perfect name for this wine.

If you haven’t tried Plus One, you should. You’ll fall in love – plus one.