![]() ![]() An Architecture of Power For decades, the story of Australian fine wine has been told through the lens of Shiraz - bold, generous, and unapologetically expressive. It is a narrative built on scale and immediacy. But that narrative, quietly and convincingly, is evolving. Cabernet Sauvignon is no longer a supporting act. It is stepping forward with intent, reshaping perceptions with a very different voice. Where Shiraz speaks in broad strokes, Cabernet is about architecture. It is a study in line, in proportion, in the measured interplay of elements. This is not a grape that seeks to impress through sheer volume, but through control - the tension between ripeness and restraint, fruit and tannin, power and poise. At its finest, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is not loud. It is assured. And increasingly, it is compelling. What makes Australian Cabernet Sauvignon so fascinating today is not a single defining style, but a spectrum of interpretations shaped by place. In the Barossa Valley - Cabernet carries a sense of gravitas. There is depth here - dark plum, blackcurrant, cocoa - wrapped in a plush, resonant texture. These are wines of presence, yet the best examples retain a core of structure that prevents excess. McLaren Vale offers something more savoury and grounded. Here, Cabernet leans into olive tapenade, dried herbs, and earthy complexity, layered over ripe fruit. There is a rhythm to these wines - a subtle tension between richness and savoury detail. Move to the Yarra Valley, and the conversation shifts entirely. Cooler conditions bring lift and definition. Aromatics become more pronounced, the palate more linear, the tannins finer. These are Cabernets of finesse - thoughtful, composed, and quietly intricate. Coonawarra remains one of Australia’s most distinctive voices for Cabernet Sauvignon with its Terra Rossa soils yielding wines of cassis purity, subtle mint, and finely drawn structure, with a line and persistence that feel both classical and enduring. Further south, Tasmania remains a frontier. The wines are still exploratory, but the direction is clear: elegance, brightness, and restraint. There is a sense that the best is yet to come. And then, inevitably, the Margaret River. This is where Cabernet Sauvignon finds its most articulate expression. The maritime influence tempers extremes, extends ripening, and allows flavour to develop without losing definition. The result is clarity - not just of fruit, but of structure and intent. These are wines of composure. Blackcurrant and cassis framed by fine, graphite-like tannins. Length without heaviness. Precision without austerity. On the global stage, they stand not as imitators, but as equals. Often, as leaders. A Quiet Renaissance: There is no sudden revolution here - no trend-driven surge or fleeting moment of fashion. Instead, something far more meaningful is taking place. Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is undergoing a quiet renaissance. Winemakers are refining their approach - gentler extraction, a greater respect for site. Oak is becoming more integrated, less declarative. The goal is no longer to build weight, but to reveal shape. The result is a category that feels re-energised. Collectors are paying closer attention. Sommeliers are rediscovering its versatility at the table. Critics are assessing with growing admiration. What draws me to Australian Cabernet Sauvignon today is its sense of self. It no longer tries to be anything other than what it is. It doesn’t chase the shadow of Bordeaux, nor does it rely on sheer power to assert its place. Instead, it offers something far more enduring: precision, balance, and authenticity. There is a discipline to these wines that I find deeply compelling. Tannins are not blunt instruments - they are structural, shaping the wine rather than dominating it. The fruit is clear, not exaggerated. Everything feels intentional. And then there is the way it evolves in the glass. This is not a wine that reveals itself all at once. It unfolds slowly, deliberately - rewarding patience and attention. But perhaps most captivating of all is the diversity. From the depth and resonance of Barossa to the savoury detail of McLaren Vale, the lifted elegance of Yarra Valley, and the poised brilliance of Margaret River - there is no single definition of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon - only interpretations. And at its very best, those interpretations are not just impressive - they are truly world-class… I’ve spoken before about the brilliance of Fermoy, yet I feel compelled to return to these wines once more. They warrant it. We are fortunate to offer six vintages - each one a benchmark in its own right, and together, a compelling statement of what Margaret River can achieve on the world stage. These are wines of pedigree and precision, shaped by place and season, yet united by an unwavering standard of quality. Every vintage tells a different story. Some speak with greater depth, others with lift and finesse - all six wines are utterly captivating. There is a sense of harmony that runs through them, a quiet authority that reveals itself from the first sip to the last. What makes this collection even more remarkable is the value it represents. Quite simply, it is unmatched. I say that without hesitation. Each bottle is a reflection of vineyard, vintage, and the guiding hand behind it - offering an experience that feels both complete and singular. At this level, and at this price, it is something rarely encountered, and not easily repeated. Under one roof, we’ve brought together a selection of some our favourites - alongside many of yours. A collective expression of what Australian Cabernet Sauvignon does best. Have a wonderful Easter weekend - may the skies be blue and the sun shining bright, Stu “This is the embodiment of sophisticated Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and certainly falls under the crown of regalness.” ![]() L.A.S Vino Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, tasted 7th October 2025 “It’s the meeting of all the elements that makes this wine so special. I love it for being so different and for being an honest portrayal of mother nature. This is unfettered and allowed to show its identity. The aromatics soar like a bird of prey on the updraft – effortless, but packed with violets, cassis, mulberries, raspberry, spice, bay leaf, lots of salt, mint, fresh cedar, and rounds off with a noticeable depth of iodine. I would love to assess the aromatics in 6-8-years’ time. The sample has been kept in my ‘cool’ pantry at home – I believe this to be the perfect temperature. The palate feel is very special indeed. Mid-weighted and utterly flawless. This is the embodiment of sophisticated Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and certainly falls under the crown of regalness. Sublime and too special to partner with food. Simply, decant (for an hour), serve in either Zalto’s Bordeaux or Burgundy stemware, and settle down for the afternoon with a film or good book. This is very pretty and the flavours gracefully roll to raspberry, violets, briar, a crunch of cranberry along with a good chew of lead pencil and lift from fresh mint. This is long – the flavours drift on for minutes. The tannins, oak and acidity support the fruit and do not impose. Wonderfully effortless. Smitten in a word… Granted, I am wooing and cooing today, but another few years will add much more complexity. Drink now to 2033…” £31.95 per bottle “Wonderful, graceful drinking – supple, slippery, and wholesomely moreish. Very difficult to put down.” ![]() Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Coonawarra Stuart McCloskey, tasted 20th May 2025 “Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa soil is undoubtedly the most famous vineyard soil in Australia, and this shows off all the attributes. Straight off the bat – this is my kind of wine. My tasting note derives straight from the bottle to my glass as I was too impatient to decant… The bouquet is an outright beauty and packed with layers of autumn fruits, woodsmoke, cedar, graphite, old leather, liquorice, menthol, and cigar box. I am rather partial to the underlying marine character, too. Undergrowth, mushroom compost and aged Burgundy creeps in with more aeration. Unquestionably, an aging Pauillac in disguise… Wonderful, graceful drinking – supple, slippery, and wholesomely moreish. Very difficult to put down. Why would you? Leathery fruit melds with mature, svelte tannins. Medium-bodied, juicy and bright thanks to a tang of blood orange and menthol. The nation would be in a much better place if this was prescribed daily! This has the meat and bones to continue to cellar for at least a further 5-years however, I personally see little point… Tremendously yummy and seriously addictive. Scouts honour.” £21.95 per bottle “Wonderful lift and freshness too. Effortless, silky and layered.” ![]() Alkoomi Wines Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Frankland River Our final 39 bottles - we will not be shipping this wine again... Stuart McCloskey “What do you expect for fifteen-quid? In this case, a lot more than you are paying for and reason why we shipped an entire pallet of six-hundred bottles from the Frankland River, WA. Distinct varietal bouquet of blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry, cedar, graphite, liquorice, new leather and mint. It does require some coaxing – I suggest a few hours in the decanter… I am particularly impressed by the generosity of fruit, which envelops the palate beautifully, but it does feel very ‘neat and tidy’ rather than blousy. There is a smörgåsbord of cooling red and black fruits pervaded with minerals and graphite. Wonderful lift and freshness too. Effortless, silky and layered. There’s more than enough flesh and bones to put a case away for 6-8 years. If you loved the 2012 Killibinbin, invest in a case and watch the magic develop. A very impressive West Australian Cabernet. Drink now to 2030+. Sampled using Zalto’s Bordeaux stem. Remember – give it a few hours in a decanter.” £15.95 per bottle “I love the bouquet, which deftly straddles the styles of its birthplace and the Left Bank of Bordeaux.” ![]() Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, tasted 18th February 2026 “Heralding from the high-quality 2015 vintage, this wine translates beautifully in the glass. I love the bouquet, which deftly straddles the styles of its birthplace and the Left Bank of Bordeaux. RRP £68.00 “All in all, this is a composed and very serious Margaret River Cabernet that speaks clearly of its vintage and place - and does so with conviction. Top class.” Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, tasted 18th February 2026 “Almost the perfect vintage in Margaret River, 2016 will long be remembered as one of the region’s benchmarks. It was a particularly strong year for Chardonnay, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc, while the reds were equally impressive, with Cabernet Sauvignon especially noted for its palate density, structural integrity, and lifted varietal definition. Ten years on, that promise has delivered. A strong tick for palate density - very much a hallmark of this wine. The bouquet is night and day compared to the 2015: brooding and reticent at first, it demands airtime - two to three hours in a decanter is required. With patience, it slowly unfurls (work with it). Deep scents of mulberry and dark plum emerge, followed by a sweet core of black raspberry and crème de cassis. Layers of anise, graphite and charcoal follow, interwoven with subtle clove, garrigue and a savoury note of cold black tea. A distinct mineral thread runs throughout, and further aromatics build the longer the wine sits in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, anchored by that signature density yet shaped by finely etched tannins and beautifully judged acidity. Flavour and texture are both ripe (inherent to the vintage) yet there is vibrancy and energy in abundance. The precision is wonderful - pitch-perfect. A graphite-laced structure frames the fruit seamlessly. Today, it feels complete, though it still carries the quality and power for further evolution. Drink now with extended decanting or cellar confidently through 2036 and perhaps beyond. All in all, this is a composed and very serious Margaret River Cabernet that speaks clearly of its vintage and place - and does so with conviction. Top class. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glass.” RRP £64.00 “The bouquet quite literally weakens the knees - one of those rare, goosebump-inducing moments. Super-dense and seemingly bottomless, the aromatics soar from the glass.” Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Margaret River Trophy for Best Older Red Wine at the 2021 Wine Show of WA Stuart McCloskey, tasted 18th February “2017 was a year that challenged and ultimately reshaped the Cabernet Sauvignons of Margaret River. By the end of harvest and through the post-fermentation tastings, it was clear that what began as a testing season would be remembered as a great vintage. It is difficult not to draw comparisons with Bordeaux however, Margaret River Cabernets possess a distinct identity - uniquely and unmistakably terroir-driven. They represent a rare convergence of climate, geography, vine age, and winemaking philosophy. Few regions in the world consistently produce Cabernet Sauvignon with such a compelling combination of power, perfume, precision, and value. The bouquet quite literally weakens the knees - one of those rare, goosebump-inducing moments. Super-dense and seemingly bottomless, the aromatics soar from the glass with crème de cassis, Chinese five spice, boozy black cherry pie and violets lead the way. Notes of Szechuan pepper and dried rose petals follow, intertwined with wood smoke, sea spray and nori. Anise, black olive brine and a twist of orange zest bring up the rear and add more complexity. It feels almost indecent in its allure - the sort of perfume that could be bottled and worn by anyone. Flamboyant, sensual, irresistible. Completely addictive. I’m hooked before even taking the first sip. Equally astonishing on the palate, the wine delivers in every respect. Flavour and texture flow effortlessly, seemingly without end. Medium-to-full-bodied, the black and blue fruits are rich and densely packed, yet never heavy. This is what sets Margaret River Cabernet apart from many of its New World counterparts. Ripeness and flavour held in perfect tension with beautiful freshness. In the very best examples (such as this) - you truly experience the best of both worlds: generosity and precision, power and poise. The mouthfeel is pure decadence (though never overripe), framed by fantastically velvety tannins. Seamless, wonderfully fresh and seemingly endless on the finish. A monument to the greatness of Margaret River. Truly world class. Drink now or cellar for 20 years. Served using Zalto Bordeaux stemware.” RRP £60.00 “The 2018 and 2019 wines are astoundingly good...” ![]() Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, tasted 19th February 2026 “A profound and complete Cabernet that transcends expectation and speaks with absolute clarity of place. The bouquet is immediately arresting - a fleeting suggestion of mature Pinot-like lift gives way to unmistakable Cabernet authority. Layers unfold with calm precision: forest floor, wild mushroom, damp cellar, juniper and bay leaf, all threaded with an enduring saline minerality. There is something paradoxical here — the aromatics are potent yet calming. A distinct seashore character pervades, an iodine-laced ocean breeze carrying through darker fruits and earthy complexity. It is evocative and contemplative rather than forceful. One of my favourite perfumes. With more air, saddle leather and iodine complexity rise seamlessly from the glass. The aromatics are commanding in depth, composed and addictive. The palate is nothing short of sublime. Silken - cashmere and velvet in texture, yet structurally perfect. Graphite-fine tannins are perfectly integrated, carrying a core of blue and black fruits that move effortlessly toward tertiary nuance. There is extraordinary harmony between fruit density, savoury detail, and acidity - nothing protrudes, nothing is forced. The finish lingers for minutes. Decant for an hour if drinking now. While already magnificent, the balance and tannin architecture indicate a wine destined for its apogee in 8–10 years. I bet this could be something very, very special. Possibly my favourite vintage.” Erin Larkin, Robert Parker.com July 2023 “The 2018 and 2019 wines are astoundingly good, and I am very excited to see these wines in a decade or more... click to read Erin's tasting note in full and Ray Jordan's 98 point tasting note... RRP £56.00 “This is Margaret River at its most atmospheric and complete. The palate is sublime.” Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Margaret River Best Cabernet Trophy at 2022 Royal Sydney Wine Show Stuart McCloskey, tasted 19th February 2026 “Inescapably Margaret River. The marine signature is immediate and unmistakable - black nori, crushed oyster shell, the oceanic scent of the tide retreating over warm sand. Beneath the saline inflection lies a core of pure cassis, mulberry, blueberry and blackcurrant, all framed by cooling graphite. It’s a brooding, intensely perfumed Cabernet that requires time; a few hours in the decanter are essential. With significant airtime, the wine unfurls into something deeper and more savoury - resting beef juices, woodsmoke, Mediterranean herbs (bay leaf) and a pinch of sea salt. The elements knit together seamlessly. This is Margaret River at its most atmospheric and complete. The palate is sublime - silken in texture, yet architecturally precise. Graphite-laced tannins weave through ripe blue and black fruits effortlessly. A tangible savouriness emerges - tobacco leaf and dried herbs which add to the complexity. I’ve come to the view that Fermoy Estate Reserve Cabernet now sits comfortably among the region’s elite. While showing beautifully today, its structure and composure suggest a wine destined for three decades in the cellar, and likely beyond. Magnificent.” RRP £51.50 “A fine, regal, sophisticated and a flawless expression of its region.” ![]() Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Margaret River Best in Show, 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards Stuart McCloskey, tasted May 2025 “I will come clean – I failed to understand all the hype when I first sampled the wine. I found it a tad tough and angular. Today, this feels rested and a giver of joy. The perfume exudes Margaret River charm and is awash with blackcurrant, cassis, violet, sea spray, peppermint, white pepper, fresh sage along with a waft of sweet, piping tobacco. The palate radiates elegance and charm, but not at the expense of the fruit, which flows in a stream of ripe blue and black berries. The interplay with the tannins is genius. Structured, sculptured, seductive, and delivered by a winemaker wearing velvet gloves. The length is mightily impressive – I do like the sorbet-esque tang to the acidity. The wine’s X-Factor is noticeable however, and what I find most attractive, it’s not a showy style of wine. A fine, regal, sophisticated and a flawless expression of its region. In the context of today’s article - this is not inexpensive, but I will argue that it is worth every penny and better than many of its more expensive neighbours. A wine of charming beauty that will continue to provide a decade or more of pleasure. Rather addictive, too. Sample number three and it’s only 11:30am!. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. I am really looking forward to enjoying the remainder tonight (using Burgundy stemware, which could be the better choice). Decant for an hour… Praise be.” RRP £52.00 “We already know the exceptional quality of the vineyard and the talent of the winemaking team, and Accolade does not cut corners - no expense is spared.” ![]() 2021 Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley Stuart McCloskey, tasted 27 March 2026 “The 2021 vintage in Eden Valley is widely considered exceptional, often described by local winemakers and critics as a “unicorn” or a standout of the decade. The quality of the fruit in the ’21 Corryton Park is plain to see. The bouquet is a glorious fusion of purity and intensity: an exquisite, deeply perfumed nose that is still very much in its infancy. Intense aromas of blackberry, cassis, blackcurrant, mulberry, plum, violet, liquorice, graphite, pencil shavings, crushed rock and bay leaf unfold, alongside the faintest hint of menthol and fresh mint. The oak is perfectly integrated, adding a savoury, spicy lift. With extended airtime, a note of pen ink emerges. It’s a shame they are unable to bottle perfume this beautiful. The palate is beautifully ripe and displays all the classic Cabernet DNA: blackcurrant, cassis, baking spice, violet and minerality. I particularly like the spice from the oak and the chew of HB pencil. You have to admire the arc of fresh, succulent flavours. We already know the exceptional quality of the vineyard and the talent of the winemaking team, and Accolade does not cut corners - no expense is spared. Accordingly, this vintage shows Corryton Park Cabernet in the brightest possible light. It is exceedingly good value, albeit we receive preferential pricing. The finish takes its time, then slowly trails away with harmony and grace. Drink now (an hour in the decanter will suffice) but it will age gracefully for at least another decade. I reckon secondary flavours will begin to emerge over the next 5 to 8 years.” Only £19.95 per bottle “This wine is a true, class act. Wonderful breeding – The quality of the wine / producer is unmistakable.” ![]() Houghton C.W. Ferguson Cabernet Malbec 2019 Stuart McCloskey, November 2025 “At first, the bouquet is heady and densely packed - this needs a good decant (2-3-hours) to unravel all the layers. Freshness and fruit-succulence emerge with extended aeration. Pen ink, sweet raspberry, blackberry, violet, eucalyptus, graphite, pencil shavings, dark chocolate, herbs (dried mint) anise and iodine… Seaweed after more time in the glass. I would disagree with Aaron Brasher’s ‘Hedonistic’ viewpoint. Perhaps a further few years in the bottle is showing a more refined side to both varietals. The texture is slick and glossy. The fruit is refreshing, I love the ‘tang’ and I love the flowing stream of fruit and sweet, baking spice. Tannins provide good structure. This wine is a true, class act. Wonderful breeding – The quality of the wine / producer is unmistakable. Drink now to 2030. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware…" £24.95 per bottle Also available under bond @ £81.40 per case (6x75cl) “This is certainly not a wine to be guzzled. It demands your attention. The sense of unforced harmony ultimately wins you over.” ![]() Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, April 2025 “A wonderfully pure, expressive and effortlessly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, which does take a wee-while to unfurl. Post a few hours in my glass (and lots of swirling) - alluring scents of blackberries, briar, cassis, plum, blueberry, woodsmoke, tobacco, saddle leather, dry spices along with a waft of licorice and sandalwood develop… Medium-bodied and fresh with perfectly knit acidity. The flow is seamless, there are no rough edges, the tannins are fine-grained leaving you with a sense of perfect cohesiveness. Flavours mingle beautifully and range from blackberry, mulberry, black tea, a soupçon of liquorice and then moves onto minerals. Such finesse – such intellectual drinking (without sounding overly poncy). This is certainly not a wine to be guzzled. It demands your attention. The sense of unforced harmony ultimately wins you over. The wine remains youthful, but has developed enough to be enjoyed today, and will continue to cellar for a further decade. Served using Zalto Bordeaux stemware. Decant for 1-2 hours.” RRP £49.99 per bottle £35.00 per bottle “For those who wish to explore unadulterated beauty – this is the one. She’s so graceful and purrs with pedigree.” Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Margaret River Stuart McCloskey, April 2025 “Perhaps Margaret River Cabernet at its most seductive. The bouquet is so alluring from the get-go and screams Cabernet - inescapable if this were served blind… Redcurrant, blackcurrant (and leaf), fresh mint, eucalyptus, red pepper (capsicum), fresh, mown grass, herbal, hay, saline, black olive, blueberry compote, graphite and finishes with cedar. The palate is impactful and very Bordeaux in its style (as was the 2016). This is a beautiful wine – compact, lacy, full of energy and comes across unforced. The flavours (blackcurrant, HB pencils, crisp, crunchy red fruits and bay leaf) take an age to dissipate and when they do, they gently roll into ultra-fine tannins. Freshness abounds and she’s packed with minerals. Such a serious, compelling wine, and one that is ready to enjoy now through to 2035+. Respectfully, those seeking a hedonistic rush should move on. For those who wish to explore unadulterated beauty – this is the one. She’s so graceful (without impacting texture or flavour) and purrs with pedigree. Very special, indeed. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware.” RRP £49.99 per bottle £35.00 per bottle “Unapologetically ‘classic’ in style. This oozes Margaret River charm along with a toe or two dipped into the Garonne River.” ![]() Larry Cherubino Budworth Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Frankland River 19.5 / 20 Points - Matthew Jukes “This was the wine that damn near spoilt the nine teen track playing in my head. Sappy, more tannic and more blunt than the other two Cabs, this is a muscular wine that craves cellar time, but it is already clear that it is prodigious with dreams of greatness. Whether this beautifully complex flavour will add the half point needed to reach a perfect score in years to come is irrelevant because Riversdale Vineyard clearly has a stash of twenties buried in its soil, and they will blossom when they are good and ready.” Stuart McCloskey “Prior preparation is essential. Decant (for at least 5-6 hours) and serve in Zalto Bordeaux glassware (or similar). Anything less will simply lead to an ‘ordinary’ rather than an ‘extraordinary’ experience. Ideally, this should be tucked away in the cellar and only brought out in a decade or so. For those curious, here’s what to expect today… Unapologetically ‘classic’ in style. This oozes Margaret River charm along with a toe or two dipped into the Garonne River. Read more for full tasting notes... Was £70.00 per bottle Also available under bond @ £284.00 per case (6x75cl) “This is an extraordinary wine and overdelivers on every level.” ![]() Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Barossa Valley Selling on behalf of one of our customers Stuart McCloskey “I place my hand over my heart and state this is drinking wonderfully, and in a much better place than I was expecting. At first (without aeration), the bouquet bellows out with piercing blackcurrant and cassis – I am not sure I have ever encountered a ten-year-old wine with such intense, primary aromatics. This blossoms with air – not too much, mind you. An hour or two will suffice, and then the bouquet settles down into a comfortable and complex melange of cassis, raspberry, blackberry compote, mulberries, vanilla, saddle leather, briar, farmyard (think Pinot Noir), truffle, soy, black tea leaves, sweet spice, and fresh pencil shavings. The palate is beautifully elegant (seamless, in fact) and the flavours build and build. My previous note (2021) stated the wine to be at its ‘apogee’ however, there is no loss of vitality. In fact, this is better – more cohesive and more enjoyable. I am reminded of the pricing and feel obliged to dial-back my enthusiasm however, this is an extraordinary wine and overdelivers on every level. I confess to ‘sampling’ almost half a bottle whilst writing this tasting note, which says it all… Drink now and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Cellar to 2030. Served using Zalto Burgundy stemware (it holds the perfume much better)." By the bottle @ £24.99 ![]() Reynella Basket Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 McLaren Vale Trophy: McLaren Vale Wine Show 2021 Best Museum Wine of Show Stuart McCloskey March 2025 “The back labels states, ‘this wine is crafted to enjoy now or reward careful cellaring for the next ten years.’ Well, we’re almost at the ten-year mark, and this has at least another decade or two left. For me, this is only starting to be approachable. At the first sniff - you sense the quality, and you sense the luxurious experience that awaits. The bouquet is densely packed and needs time to develop. Ensure you decant for at least one hour, and then the prettiness flows to the tune of sweet, blue and black fruits, violet, pronounced sea salt, clove, dried mint, eucalyptus, dried, Mediterranean herbs, liquorice along with new, saddle leather and nori. There is immediate pleasure both from flavour and palate feel. This is joyous and struts confidently (as it should). The fruit is hand selected (from the best parcels), gently basket pressed and matured in French oak for 14-months. No expense spared which was Accolade’s mantra. The fruit and tannins unfold in powerful layers – generosity is presented along with serious consideration. Blackberry, mulberry, cassis and dark chocolate meld beautifully with the savouriness of bay, black olive, nori, dried herbs, lead pencil, and bags of minerality. This remains powerful however, a decade has tamed the concentration. Epic length that goes on for minutes… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. PS. the bottle weighs a ton!" RRP £35.00 per bottle £27.95 per bottle Award Winning Zuccardi Olive Oil Awards aplenty - Including 99 / 100 Points awards by FLOS OLEI Only £12.95 per bottle |


















