Wine Buyers’ Picks - Cabernet Sauvignon Edition

This family winery have been landowners in Coonawarra for over 100 years. They are Coonawarra experts and the jewel in their crown is, of course, cabernet sauvignon. Their wines consistently score highly with critics and this 2020 cellar release is a showcase of a deep understanding of the land and masterstroke winemaking.

The blackberry fruit concentration is immense and elevated by fine, dancing tannin. It wouldn't be Coonawarra without the marriage of mint and tobacco, rounding out mouth-feel and driving complexity. This is fantastic drinking now and will age gracefully for another decade.

2020 was an absolute cracker for Cabernet in Margaret River - the kind of vintage that makes winemakers feel like they’ve just won the lottery. Grab some primo Wilyabrup and Yallingup fruit, a clever hand in the winery, and 18 months maturation in a mix of new and seasoned oak, and you’ve got yourself a Cabernet worth writing home (or bragging online) about. We're completely stoked with this one. Stick your nose in and it’s a full-on sensory adventure: dark plum, cassis, cocoa dust, mulberry, aniseed, a little eucalyptus lift and that sophisticated brambly edge that just whispers “Margs”. The palate's a whole new adventure in itself... Plush, powerful and perfectly balanced - purple fruit, dusty chocolate tannins and a cheeky lick of liquorice on the finish. The kind of wine that disappears before you realise how generous you’ve been with your pour. And sure, you could cellar it until 2030 and watch it develop into something completely new… but honestly, it’s already dangerously delicious. Light the fire, grab a good hunk of cheddar, and let this cabernet do its thing. A Margaret River classic that nails the balance between grunt and grace. It’s rich, romantic and just a little bit too easy to drink - perfect for anyone who loves their reds dark, structured, and impossible to resist.

This is a wine that encapsulates everything that we love about Australia’s most iconic cabernet region, Coonawarra. Deep, dark-fruited intensity, met with smooth, well-integrated oak and that eucalypty hint that we all know so well. This lot have created an absolute cracker here - no surprises, they do every year. From the exceptional 2021 vintage, this is full-bodied cabernet that lets the terroir do the talking. Produced by certified Coonawara royalty, it’s bursting with ripe blackcurrant, blueberry and boysenberry, but layered with distinctive mint and eucalypt that let you know exactly where this wine's from. Eighteen months in a mix of French and American oak (35% new) brings a lick of toasty vanilla, spice and richness to the palate, while fine, mature tannins and bright acidity keep it all perfectly in check. Open-top fermentation and mature vines have lent a softness and depth to the wine, making it immensely enjoyable now, with the structure to cellar confidently for 8-10 years. It’s bold, it’s balanced, to be honest, in our eyes, it's perfect.