A graceful triumph for a warm season, and an outstanding Abercrombie that makes its mark not because it is a blockbuster, but quite the contrary, a classic, medium-bodied Western Australian Cabernet of intricate refinement. A blend of Mount Barker and Margaret River, there’s loads of complexity wrapped into its folds, with tobacco, cedar, coffee bean, dark chocolate and tomato bush all taking their place around a dense core of blackcurrant fruit. The palate is focused, scaffolded, impeccably defined and intricately structured, with crunchy black fruits of elegant refinement uniting with dark chocolate and tobacco oak in a streamlined frame of medium-bodied agility and well-engineered space. Tannins are ultra-fine, polished, lingering very long and promising a magnificent future. Drink 2021-2036.
97 points, Wine Taste Weekly
Lovely cigarbox aromas, cedary, the wine is pin-point ripe and the palate is elegant and refined, stylish and clean. A very elegant, tight wine with firm tannins and lashings of sweet fruit, in lovely balance. It has the power and drive to go on for many years. (74% Great Southern; 26% Margaret River).
97 points, Real Review, August 2016
A regional blend of old, low-yielding vines matured in French barriques (60% new) for 20 months. Excellent colour; it has that restraint Cabernet has in its youth, slowly opening its arms to relax and welcome you with age (5+ years) when the fragrance of the bouquet will increase in scope and intensity, cedary nuances infused through the black fruits and slowly softening tannins.
96 points, Wine Companion, February 2014
Dense, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon with layers of dark berry/black berry, spice and savoury/black olive characters. A firm backbone of ripe tannins promises great cellaring potential.
96 points, Real Review, June 2014
…profound, almost immortal type of red, driven by concentrated blackcurrant, herb, violet, cedar and dark chocolate aromas of great power. The palate has typical austerity, yet there’s great depth and intensity of fruit woven through its tight structure of fine-grained tannins and tangy acidity.
96 points, The Age (Melbourne), July 2014
Very deep purple-black in colour and showing a youthful, vibrant nose of fresh blackcurrants, crushed blackberries and black cherries accented by touches of chocolate, anise, cedar, cloves and cinnamon stick, the medium to full-bodied 2011 Abercrombie Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with slowly evolving black fruit and baking-spice flavors and is structured by a firm backbone of very fine, ripe tannins and just enough complementing acidity. It finishes with great length. Drink it now to 2025+.
95+ points, Wine Advocate, August 2014
Dark fruit, bay leaf, tobacco, black olives and chocolate the kind of flavours you might say it has, though obviously it tastes most like Cabernet. From Margaret River. Full bodied with assertive gravelly tannin, even acidity and a strong tannin laced finish – chewy almost. It built and impressed the more it was let alone to do its thing. It’s a strong release, though quite different in nature and style from previous vintages. More masculine and brooding, perhaps.
95 points, Wine Front, May 2014
…highly-scented aromas of black fruit and leafy tobacco. The palate is intense and concentrated, with powerful, driving tannins delivering the fruit to a very long, balanced finish… focus and control.
97 points, The West Australian, November 2014
