Tasting Notes
colour
Deepest crimson with vivid purple hues.
aroma
This wine has incredible lift and aromatic intensity abounding in concentrated cassis and blueberry fruit flavours; further nuanced by overtones of star anise and graphite-like minerality.
palate
An effortlessly ripe tannin structure frames a powerful and majestic palate providing complex and generous varietal flavours, including blackberry, plum and cassis. This concentration of fruit flavours is supported by delicately interwoven French oak characters and a savoury complexity. This powerful, detailed wine will reward careful long-term cellaring.
cellaring
This complex, detailed wine will reward careful cellaringĀ for ten or more years.
Technical
vintage
Representing the pinnacle of any given vintage, the 2014 Deep Woods Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from the very low-yielding original vines on the estate, along with fruit from a single grower also in the Yallingup region of Margaret River.
The 2014 harvest in Margaret River was a perfect Cabernet season. Relatively mild day-time temperatures and cool nights prevailed throughout late February and this allowed premium fruit parcels to be picked in perfect condition in early April once peak tannin and flavor ripeness was achieved.e.
winemaking
Each parcel of fruit was afforded the utmost attention in the winery with winemaking techniques aimed at optimising and enhancing the individual character of each block. Throughout the fermentation each batch was pumped over twice daily to gently extract colour, flavour and tannin from the skins. Upon completion of fermentation, the wine was drained from its skins directly to a combination of new and seasoned French barriques where it was allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature for 18 months.
region
Margaret River
variety
Cabernet Sauvignon
analysis
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- pH: 3.52
- TA: 6.52 g/L
Awards
Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2016
Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2016
Max Schubert Trophy for Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2016
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2016
Perth Royal WineShow 2016
Wine Show of Western Australia 2016
Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2016
Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show
Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2016
Max Schubert Trophy for Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show
Best Cabernet Sauvignon in Show
Royal Hobart Wine Show 2016
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Sydney Royal Wine Show 2016
Perth Royal WineShow 2016
Wine Show of Western Australia 2016
Reviews
Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine AdvocateĀ 2023
InĀ terms of vintage comparison, 2014 and 2012 were very similar. Both were warm and long, with no forced hands in relation to picking decisions and vineyard management. All of Block 3 went in to this wine, albeit a lower volume compared to the Abbey Vale component that filled the gaps. The 2014 vintage Cabernets are just so effortless and full of charmāI cannot overstate how much I love the wines of the 2014 vintage. It has the attraction and plushness of the 2012 vintage, but it has magic and charm that the 2012s can only dream of. The wine went on to win the 2016 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Melbourne Wine Show, only the fifth time in the history of the trophy that Margaret River has brought home the trophy (the trophy is awarded to the best young red, one or two year old). The 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is fleshy and resplendent with red berries, salted licorice, loads of fresh cocoa nibs and a plethora of dark stone fruits (blood plum, black cherry, damsons). The tannins are everywhere in the mouth, marbled through the fruit, and it extends long through the finish. This is a super wine, with years to go.Ā
DecanterĀ 2023
Elegant yet with imposing ripeness of regal purple and inky, minerally blue fruit, it has a distinctive note of parma violets. Bright acidity and powder-fine tannins from 18 months in barrique will see it age beautifully. Delicious!
97 Ā
Halliday Wine Companion 2017
Elegance and purity personified. The varietal expression is pitch perfect, cassis standing proud, its handmaidens fine-grained tannins and cedary French oak. It is an effortless wine, no more than medium-bodied, and needs no further elaboration. Shades of Xanadu. To 2044.
97
