2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

winemaker's note

This year’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon release is as always, an epic expression of Margaret River Cabernet. It is a wine for the cellar if you can wait, effortless in every way, a cassis flavoured dream.

Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker

colour

Deep crimson with dark purple hues.

aroma

Classic varietal aromas of violets, cassis and graphite, with savoury sage and cedar. Dark bramble and liquorice aromas tie this exuberant and intense bouquet together.

palate

Beautifully ripe and superfine, dense tannins are the hallmark of this wine every year. Flavours of red plums and cherries are enhanced by savoury olive tapenade and tomato leaf. This wine is medium-bodied, with juicy natural acidity and an elegant persistence.

cellaring

This wine will reward careful cellaring for 6–12  years.

vintage

The 2019 growing season was not without challenge, but our mature vineyards in the Yallingup Hills, as always, excelled. A mild and very steady vintage allowed for slow, measured flavour and tannin development. The result is medium-bodied wines with lovely perfume and wonderful fine-boned tannin structures. Elegance personified if you will.

winemaking

Representing the pinnacle of the Deep Woods house-style, this Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from the ultra-low yielding, original vines on the estate, along with fruit from the Abbey Vale vineyard also in the Yallingup Hills.

The ferments were assessed daily and pump-overs were performed as required to gently extract colour, flavour and tannin. The wine was gently pressed to a combination of new and seasoned French barriques, where it matured in oak for 18 months.

region

Margaret River

variety

Cabernet Sauvignon

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%
• pH: 3.50
• TA 6.60 g/L

Charred barbecue scotch fillet with chimichurri sauce and grilled corn salsa.

Perth Royal Wine Awards 2021

Decanter World Wine Awards 2021

Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2021

Wine Show of Western Australia 2021

James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge 2021

National Wine Show of Australia 2021

James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, June 2023

From the estate's first plantings; matured for 18 months in new and used French oak. Deep, vivid crimson purple. Fascinating bouquet that has the bay leaf I often find on the back palate/finish of quality cabernet sauvignon; also cassis (no surprise) wrapped in a fine gauze of oak and pliable tannins. Line, length and balance are all attributes of a classic Margaret River cabernet.

97

Ray Jordan, The West Australian Wine Guide 2022

A poised and elegantly structured cabernet reflecting the vintage, with the powdery tannin and leafy cabernet fruit strong characteristics. Bay leaf with an olive tapenade and dark chocolate combination. The palate has a smooth feel, with those chalky tannins working neatly through. It's very tight now and needs cellaring time to achieve its potential. 

95

Huon Hooke, The Real Review 2021

Deep, dark colour and an unusual balsamic herb aroma, angelica, bitter herbs, the palate full-bodied and bright, with firm tannins that are just a bit astringent. There's a thread of greenness through it. It needs food.

90