2021 Moonambel Cabernet Sauvignon

"I really feel that we have started to pin down the DNA of this wine and this might be on eof the great Dalwhinnie cabernets , the season was just about perfect for cassis flavoured dreams. Enjoy over the next three to 20 years." – Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker.

colour

Dark purple with red-black hues.

aroma

Compelling and elegant aromas of cassis, fresh plum and bay leaf roll from the glass, mingling with other classic varietal Cabernet Sauvignon characters like cedar pencil shavings and freshly cut grass.

palate

Intense cassis, sour cherry and savoury dried herbs, with a powder-fine tannin structure that pulls blackcurrant long through the palate. This wine has finesse and elegance. A sensational wine, and as always the Dalwhinnie Cabernets age beautifully.

cellaring

Enjoy over the next three to twenty years.

vintage

A standout vintage that was mild and long, this resulted in fruit being picked at optimal ripeness, but with the most moderate alcohol levels. This allowed the fruit character and fine structures within the wines to truly shine.

winemaking

The fruit for this wine was picked from largely the Cellar door block on the Dalwhinnie estate where it was then fermented for 14 days in open top fermenters. Once approaching dryness, the wine was pressed directly to French oak barriques for a 18 month maturation. Careful barrel selection as always looking for barrels that highlighted lift and length of flavour.

region

Pyrenees

variety

Cabernet Sauvignon

analysis

• Alcohol: 14.0%

Filet mignon with Café de Paris butter sauce and steak frites.

Toni Paterson, Halliday Wine Companion 2025

Sourced from the original contour and front-gate vineyards on Dalwhinnie estate. Open-top fermentation, then pressed to French oak barriques for a 20-month maturation. The palate is outstanding, with plentiful dark, concentrated fruit that is focused and defined, held in a structural tannin frame and accented with dried marjoram. Expert viticulture has achieved ripeness, depth and impressive varietal character, and skilful, respectful winemaking allows the estate's signature cassis fruit to shine. Cellar-worthy.

97

Toni Paterson, The Wine Front 2024

The eucalypt is noted but this is fabulous, and it’s fabulous for both the darkness and freshness of its fruit, and for the clear sustained sail of its finish. There’s a choc-mint aspect to this, not surprisingly, but if ever we wanted evidence that Dalwhinnie is back in town quality-wise, this is it.

95+