Silky smooth and elegant cabernet from the special Block 6 within the Riversdale Vineyard. There is an ethereal aroma here of violet and red fruit with a cedary blackcurrant overlay. Once you reach the palate you are in a heady zone. Refined and graceful lines based on fine chalky tannins and a liberal well managed use of oak carry the...
Ray Jordan95points
Great Southern
Cherubino Beautiful South 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautiful South, indeed. Comes off the Riversdale vineyard using a mix of different clones for the cabernet sauvignon, malbec and merlot. A thoroughly deliciously engaging red blend offering plush bright fruit flavours augmented by some gentle oak treatment and supported by a fine thread of tannin. The textural feel in the mouth is sublime.
Ray Jordan95points
Great Southern
Castelli Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
The purity of the varietal cabernet from Frankland is evident immediately. Has a meaty blackcurrant aroma that is so much part of the variety. But then other characters of dark chocolate, shale and graphite emerge. The palate has a tight firm core in support of the plush concentrated fruit flavours. An excellent wine displaying a high degree of regionality.
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
Capel Vale The Scholar Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
A bright minerally cabernet sauvignon which string reflects this vintage. It's poise and elegantly structured. Blackcurrant fruit merges with a lift of scented red berry. A distinctive minerally oyster shell characters settles on the nose before creeping into the palate to define and deliver to a long finish. It's seamlessly integrated with a little graphite edge to complete the finish....
Ray Jordan94points
Margaret River
Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
Highly fragrant and scented cabernet from this excellent cabernet vintage. Aromas of violet and blackcurrant and red berry nuances with a lift of bay leaf and graphite. The palate is seamlessly woven with a fine chalky tannin control. It’s an elegantly crafted wine of good intensity and depth delivering its payload with poise and refinement.
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Cape Grace Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
Every time I think I've seen the last release from 2018, out pops another. It was a great vintage, and this super impressive cabernet is showing just why. Traditional winemaking has been adopted to capture the best from this remarkably intense and super concentrated fruit. The combination of blackcurrant and slightly bay leaf fruit with subtle oyster shell and graphite...
Ray Jordan92points
Margaret River
Cape Grace Basket Pressed Cabernet Shiraz 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
A classic Aussie combo bursting with vibrant high-tone fruit from the perfumed nose through to the driven palate. Plush black fruits with a slightly bay leaf and graphite minerality cut through the mid palate. Has an effortless and almost languid palate feel that extends easily without fuss to a long finish.
Ray Jordan92points
Margaret River
Byron & Harold The Protocol Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
Displays the elegance of the '21 Margaret River vintage. Aromas of dark chocolate and steely blackcurrant with traces of black olive laced within. The palate is generous and seamless with a fine balance of chalky tannins and oak. A polished wine.
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Brown Hill Perseverance Signature Range Cabernet Merlot 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cracking good wine from this superb red wine vintage. One of the smoothest and most elegantly refined reds yet from Brown Hill. In fact, it's part of the evolution of the Brown Hill style. Plum, chocolate and a little blueberry and blackcurrant push out from the palate. The oak is perfectly integrated while the tannins are precisely infused.
Ray Jordan94points
Margaret River
Brookland Valley Estate Cabernet Merlot 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
A beautiful wine from the vintage that slept for a year or so before waking and revealing its best qualities. It will always be an elegantly poised vintage and this blend captures that. Black fruits with some nice chocolaty blue fruits. The palate is generous and smoothly integrated but with a firm spine that will ensure ageing potential is fulfilled.
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
Ashbrook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon
An elegant and graceful cabernet from this slightly cooler Margaret River vintage. It's from a 40-year-old dry grown vineyard which produces consistently excellent fruit. Lots of red fruits on the nose with a little bay leaf and graphite contributing to some minerally characteristics. The palate is so seductively smooth and finely integrated. Very long chalky tannins sustain an effortless focused...
Ray Jordan94points
Margaret River
Ashbrook Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
These old dry-grown vines in Margaret River have been pumping out mighty good fruit for some years now. This small but concentrated vintage has produced an excellent wine for Ashbrook. Mostly cabernet but a few spots of petit verdot, cabernet franc and malbec bring additional features into play. Has a leafy cedary overlay to the bright red fruits. The palate...
Captures the elegance and refinement of this vintage. Immediately strikes with aromas of blackcurrant and light cedar with a bay leaf and minerally graphite note. The palate is firm with the sinewy tannins and oak maintaining a firm hand on the fruit through to a long finish. Will benefit from medium term cellaring.
Ray Jordan92points
Margaret River
Aravina Estate The A Collection Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon
A delightful medium bodied and elegant expression of these three Bordeaux varieties. Juicy red fruit characters emerge with the cedary oak and subtle graphite characters applying a keen edge and definition. The highly scented aromas lead into a palate that retains its firm structure while delivering the plump fruit.
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Amelia Park Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
Captures the elegance and stylishness of this vintage in Margaret River. Such a bright hi-tone wine with a perfumed nose of blackcurrant laced with red fruits and a little graphite minerality. The palate presents a refined combination of effortlessly fine fruit supported with chalky tannins and fine-grained oak. Still quite tight and has great cellaring potential.
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
Amelia Park Cabernet Merlot 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon
This has been a winner for Amelia Park, and I have to say this one is as good as any released to date. The warm vintage suited the ripe generous style. The addition of the aromatic cab franc with a little malbec has lifted the nose and created beautifully exotic perfumes. This takes the cab merlot blend into another zone....
Ray Jordan95points
Great Southern
Alkoomi Blackbutt 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is largely cabernet sauvignon with smaller contributions from malbec and cabernet franc. It's a smooth and generous wine displaying an engaging combination of black and red fruits on the nose with a little dark chocolate complexity. The palate fills with red and black fruits supported by fine sinewy tannins and neat oak. It's a well-structured and poised wine that...
Ray Jordan92points
Margaret River
3 Oceans The Explorers Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
A medium-bodied reflection of the vintage. Yet there is plenty of mid-palate power in this stylish and refined cabernet. Minerally graphite and blackcurrant notes on the nose with just a trace of mulberry complexity. The palate is sleek and refined with a nice combination of chalky tannins and fine grained understated oak. Persistent and long.
Ray Jordan96points
Margaret River
Xanadu cabernet sauvignon 2021
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a tighter and slightly firmer expression of Margaret River cabernet than the 2020, yet there is plenty of power and drive through an intense and concentrated palate. Perfumed aromas of blackcurrant and bay leaf with a trace of edgy black olive. The structural core provides so much poise to a wine that will cellar exceptional well.
Ray Jordan94points
Margaret River
Stormflower Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
This deceptively good vintage produced wines of elegance and style and this is a good example of what came from it. The leafy minerally notes of cabernet are well to the fore. Bright red fruit emerges from an engaging bouquet that sets it up nicely. There's a slightly meaty blackcurrant influence which speaks cabernet. Perfectly balanced with everything coming together...
Ray Jordan95points
Margaret River
St Johns Brook Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a powerhouse statement of cabernet. Loaded with blackcurrant and black olive with a liberal addition of bay leaf and dried herbs. The palate cuts deep with a graphite leafy edge striking through the solid core of dark fruit. It's had 50% new French oak, which sits comfortably with the fruit and firm tannins. A wine with some cellaring...
Ray Jordan96points
Great Southern
Rockcliffe Single Site Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon
Thoroughly delightful cabernet sauvignon that captures the essence of this outstanding vintage. Has typical ripe sweet fruit displaying a mix of blackcurrant and plum dark chocolate characters. The minerally chalky tannins add a fine elegance. It's firm through the middle palate extending to a very long finish. A finishing oyster shell character completes it perfectly.