Hollick Red Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Coonawarra's famous terra rossa soil - a thin strip of red earth over limestone - creates ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique terroir produces wines with distinctive eucalyptus and mint characters, which you'll find beautifully expressed in this Hollick Red Ridge. The region's cool climate allows for slow ripening, developing the complex blackberry and spice notes that make Coonawarra Cabernet among Australia's most celebrated.

The three years of bottle age since 2021 have allowed this Cabernet's tannins to soften and integrate, creating the rich, dense mid-palate mentioned in the tasting notes. During this time, the primary fruit flavours have evolved into more complex secondary characters, while the fennel and mint aromatics have become more pronounced. This maturation period has transformed what would have been a youthful, structured wine into something more approachable and harmonious.

This rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon pairs beautifully with red meat dishes that can match its intensity. The wine's eucalyptus and allspice notes complement herb-crusted lamb or beef, while the blackberry fruit provides a lovely contrast to char-grilled steaks. The wine's structure and tannins also make it excellent with aged hard cheeses or hearty stews where the wine's complexity can shine alongside robust flavours.

James Halliday's Five Red Star rating represents the pinnacle of Australian winemaking excellence, awarded to producers who consistently deliver outstanding quality across their range. Hollick has earned this prestigious recognition through decades of crafting exceptional wines from their Coonawarra estate vineyards. This rating reflects not just individual wine quality, but the producer's commitment to viticulture excellence, winemaking expertise, and consistent performance year after year.

This Cabernet showcases the classic Coonawarra profile with rich blackberry fruit at its core, complemented by distinctive eucalyptus notes that give it an unmistakably Australian character. The allspice adds warming complexity, while threads of fennel and mint weave through the palate, creating layers of interest. The full-bodied structure provides a dense, satisfying mouthfeel that balances power with elegance, making it both approachable now and suitable for further cellaring.